If we Americans are individualistic at heart, if we instinctively chafe against a past of tribal allegiances, traditions, customs, and castes, it would be a mistake to assume that this is all we are.

• 如果我们美国人个个都是利己主义者，如果我们本能地看不惯往日的宗族忠贞、传统、风俗和社会等级制度，想当然地认为这就是我们的本性，那就错了。