Quote by Thomas Carlyle
Of America it would ill beseem any Englishman, and me perhaps as little as another, to speak unkindly, to speak unpatriotically, if any of us even felt so. Sure enough, America is a great, and in many respects a blessed and hopeful phenomenon. Sure enough, these hardy millions of Anglosaxon men prove themselves worthy of their genealogy. But as to a Model Republic, or a model anything, the wise among themselves know too well that there is nothing to be said. Their Constitution, such as it may be, was made here, not there. Cease to brag to me of America, and its model institutions and constitutions.
Summary
This quote suggests that while America is praised as a great and promising country, it should not be held as an exemplary model for republics or anything else. The speaker argues that it would be inappropriate for an Englishman or themselves to speak negatively or unpatriotically about America, acknowledging its accomplishments and the worthiness of its people. However, the speaker asserts that Americans themselves understand that their Constitution and institutions were formed within the country, without the need for external models. Consequently, they believe there is no need for others to boast about America as a prototype for governance or societal structures.
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