A frightening antinomy characterizes, the
Europeans: it is the antithesis between the inward and outward man.
The
European appears to be one thing, but is really something else. He lives and
moves in the falsehood of compromises. His entire culture is a collection of
conventional lies to which he has adapted himself. He is extremely
egocentric, but he conducts himself with absolute and almost exaggerated
courtesy.
In the «underdeveloped» countries where
people still lack the finesse of European culture, everyone more or less
expresses his inner world with some freedom and simplicity which you cannot
find in Europe. Their manners are coarse, but they are more genuine.
In Europe this is considered a lack of culture and spiritual development.
In this way, the constant game of hypocrisy
has come to be regarded as culture, where the white-washed tombs are full of
stench, and the outside of the cup always cleaned for the sake of the
appearance to the people.
But as it happens with Pharisees, that
constant lie in which they live does not humble them. On the contrary, their
outward perfection makes them certain of their superiority. The most
characteristic mark of the Europeans is their conceit. They look down upon
all people, considering them uncultured or underdeveloped.
A few of them might have a great concern for
the needs of others, of persons, of groups, or even of nations, and
especially the underdeveloped ones, towards who they nurture compassionate
sentiments; but deep down they are concerned for others the way an
entomologist is concerned for insects. The sentiments they nurture for
people are inferior to the love they have for their dogs. …
Their customary position is that of
well-disposed agnostics who are willing to agree with whatever you tell
them, but let you understand that, of course, there is no way of proving
anything you say, and therefore, it leaves them neither hot nor cold. …
