The keynote of American civilization is a sort of warm-hearted vulgarity. The Americans have none of the irony of the English, none of their cool poise, none of their manner. But they do have friendliness. Where an Englishman would give you his card, an American would very likely give you his shirt.
ATTRIBUTION:
Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), U.S. author. “Beginning of an Essay,” The Notebooks of Raymond Chandler (1976).
