Our attitude toward our own culture has recently been characterized by two qualities, braggadocio and petulance. Braggadocio -- empty boasting of American power, American virtue, American know-how -- has dominated our foreign relations now for some decades. Here at home -- within the family, so to speak -- our attitude to our culture expresses a superficially different spirit, the spirit of petulance. Never before, perhaps, has a culture been so fragmented into groups, each full of its own virtue, each annoyed and irritated at the others.

Summary

This quote suggests that the American attitude towards its own culture has been marked by two distinct qualities. Firstly, there has been an excessive and boastful display of American power, virtue, and expertise in foreign relations. This braggadocio has prevailed for many years. Conversely, within the country, the attitude towards American culture displays a different tone - that of petulance. The culture appears heavily divided into various groups, each asserting their own virtues while simultaneously being annoyed and irritated by others. This indicates a clear fragmentation within American society, characterized by an uncooperative and confrontational spirit.

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