"When I first visited North America, I was shocked to find that there were no barriers at railroad crossings or guardrails along the tracks. In remote areas, the rails were even used as footpaths. When I voiced my astonishment, I received the following response: only a fool does not know that trains run on the tracks at a speed of between forty and a hundred miles. It also became apparent that nothing is forbidden, but simply not allowed, since people were asked in the most polite way to please don`t... These and similar impressions of mine were condensed into my realization that in American public life, intelligence they appeal and expect; In Europe, however, they are based on stupidity. America demands and supports common sense, while Europe looks back to see if the dumb are keeping up. In fact, the situation is even worse: the European continent assumes evil, and therefore shouts the commanding and intrusive forbidden to everyone, while America turns to good intentions.
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Author
Carl Gustav JungAll Translations
All Translations
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When I first visited North America, I was shocked to find that there were no barriers at railroad crossings or guardrails along the tracks. In remote areas, the rails were even used as footpaths. When I voiced my astonishment, I received the following response: only a fool does not know that trains run on the tracks at a speed of between forty and a hundred miles. It also became apparent that nothing is forbidden, but simply not allowed, since people were asked in the most polite way to please don`t... These and similar impressions of mine were condensed into my realization that in American public life, intelligence they appeal and expect; In Europe, however, they are based on stupidity. America demands and supports common sense, while Europe looks back to see if the dumb are keeping up. In fact, the situation is even worse: the European continent assumes evil, and therefore shouts the commanding and intrusive forbidden to everyone, while America turns to good intentions.
""Amikor először látogattam Észak-Amerikába, megdöbbenve vettem észre, hogy nem voltak sorompók a vasúti átjárókban és védősövények a sínek mentén. Távoli vidékeken a síneket még gyalogútnak is használták. Amikor hangot adtam a megdöbbenésemnek, a következő választ kaptam: csak a hülye nem tudja, hogy a síneken negyven és száz mérföld közötti sebességgel közlekednek a vonatok. Az is feltűnt, hogy semmi sem tilos, hanem egyszerűen csak not allowed, tehát nem szabad, hiszen az embert a legudvariasabban kérték, hogy Please don`t... Ezek és hasonló benyomásaim abba a felismerésembe sűrűsödtek össze, hogy az amerikai közéletben az intelligenciára apellálnak és azt várják el; Európában ellenben a butaságra alapoznak. Amerika az értelmet követeli meg és támogatja, Európa pedig hátranéz, hogy lépést tartanak-e a buták is. Sőt még rosszabb a helyzet: az európai kontinens gonoszságot feltételez, s ezért kiáltja mindenkinek a parancsoló és tolakodó tilos-t, míg Amerika a jó szándékhoz fordul."