The Quivering Upper Lip -- The British character: from self-restraint to self-indulgence

City Journal ^ | Autumn 2008 | Theodore Dalrymple

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

When my mother arrived in England as a refugee from Nazi Germany, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, she found the people admirable, though not without the defects that corresponded to their virtues. By the time she died, two-thirds of a century later, she found them rude, dishonest, and charmless. They did not seem to her, moreover, to have any virtues to compensate for their unpleasant qualities. I occasionally asked her to think of some, but she couldn’t; and neither, frankly, could I.

snip

What, exactly, were the qualities that my mother had so admired? Above all, there was the people’s manner. The British seemed to her self-contained, self-controlled, law-abiding yet tolerant of others no matter how eccentric, and with a deeply ironic view of life that encouraged them to laugh at themselves and to appreciate their own unimportance in the scheme of things.

snip

Gradually, but overwhelmingly, the culture and character of British restraint have changed into the exact opposite. Extravagance of gesture, vehemence of expression, vainglorious boastfulness, self-exposure, and absence of inhibition are what we tend to admire now—and the old modesty is scorned. It is as if the population became convinced of Blake’s fatuous dictum that it is better to strangle a baby in the cradle than to let a desire remain unacted upon.

snip

Lack of self-control is just as character-forming as self-control: but it forms a different, and much worse and shallower, character. Further, once self-control becomes neither second nature nor a desired goal, but rather a vice to avoid at all costs, there is no plumbing the depths to which people will sink.

[1066AD]

Wiki says he's a psychiatrist too.

[Frantzie]

My semi-mistake. I said psychologist MD which is wrong. A psychistrist is an MD. They can perscribe drugs while a psychologist cannot. His writing is A1.

[daniel1212]

See BRUTAL BRITAIN http://www.brutalbritain.org.uk/

[dighton]

Daniels/Dalrymple bump. Thanks for posting.

[SuziQ]

Dog-eared for Monday reading.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping.

[neverdem]

The author attributes the decline of British civil society to various "intellectual and legislative activity" (such as lowering the tax on alcohol), but never mentions the overriding change from a predominantly Christian to a post-Christian culture, perhaps reflecting a personal blind spot in the author.

IIRC, he's admitted to being either an agnostic or atheist.

[neverdem]

Theodore Dalrymple is his pseudonym. Anthony Daniels is his real name.

English doctor, writer and social commentator, Theodore Dalrymple (pseudonym of Anthony Daniels), has practised medicine among the very poor and oppressed in several continents and, more recently, at a public hospital and prison in England.

[cricket]

Well, it gets a mention;

they had a state religion, but came to find religious enthusiasm bad form. . .

. . .but given the litany of evils here; could have given it 'greater mention'.

Certainly is a preview and warning; (if not too late already, 'here'). Never cease to be amazed at the level of degradation that much of our culture continues to descend to. Albeit; we are not 'England' - yet, anyway. And there are many fine young people - as I am sure there still are in England(?)

Does show the effects of Liberalism. Also thrown in here are the early 'inflluences' of 'Jerry Springer' TV and many 'ad nauseum' shows; now we have 'reality shows'. Seems 'trash' is King in tv land. . .for too much of the time and it does rise to the top; and we will pay a price for it.

And of course, Nature does abhor a vacuum. . .and so where Religion becomes scarce; nihilism, if only a big zero; fills the 'o's here.

[odin2008]

I have traveled all over the world and I visited London in 2006. I found the people to be rude,narcissistic, and drunk.
The youths had bad manners and filthy mouths. Maybe I was in the wrong part of London. I did meet some really nice people thou. They took great pride in their education and appearance. A few years back,I had a British commando friend who was in his late 50's and he was as tuff as nails, yet very polite. Fear was not in his fiber. I also agree that the country has lost it's Christian heritage.

[Mobile Vulgus]

I agree with the author. Britain is dead. It will never return.

[flowerplough]

Actor Ray Winstone: ‘I mean, don’t get me wrong,’ he says. ‘This is not something you want to do. Every time I get on a plane the thing I love is that moment when the captain announces we’re flying over England.

‘You open the shutters on your little window and you look down at all those miles of green fields and think: “This is it. This is England. This is the greatest, most beautiful country in the world.”’

He shakes his head and sighs. ‘But it’s just not great any more, is it?’ He pauses.

‘Let’s be honest. This country isn’t going to the dogs. It’s gone to the dogs. We’re a mess. And do I really want to live in this mess any more? I feel bad saying it, but I’m just not sure.’

[Winniesboy]

Daniels is a trained psychiatrist, yet commits the basic error of ascribing to entire populations characteristics properly attributable only to individuals. His writing, superficially impressive, elegantly articulated and not without its insights, succumbs all too often to the inductive fallacy: argument from the incisively analysed particular to an always misanthropic general, with nothing but a brief non sequitur to link the two. Hardly surprising, when one's entire professional life has been spent trying to make sense of the minds of the dregs of society, that one's outlook on humanity at large should become a wee bit unbalanced.

[Mac from Cleveland]

That’s one of my longtime favorite quotations, as well.

I imagine most Freepers know of Theodore Dalrymple (AKA Dr. Anthony Daniels) and his work-for anyone who doesn’t-he is always excellent-his books and articles are terrific—if his byline is on anything-read it. This article is from City Journal-he’s a regular there, which is almost 100% worthwhile to read, every month and, IMHO, should be bookmarked by anyone interested in modern society, politics, etc.

[Canedawg]

Hmmm, it’s a shame, isn’t it?

As the post above yours stated: Nature does abhor a vacuum. . .and so where Religion becomes scarce, nihilism...fills.

[aculeus]

bttt

[the scotsman]

Well, thats London for you.

We have the same love for London you lot do for NY or LA...lol