He could have written this yesterday.

A relatively concise observation from Tocqueville on "Why Americans are so restless in the midst of their prosperity."

(Remember, this was published in 1835)

"Sometimes you still come across, in certain remote districts of the Old World, small populations which have been almost forgotten in the general commotion and which have stayed stationary while everything moved around them. Most of these peoples are very ignorant and wretched. They take no part in government affairs and often governments oppress them. Yet they normally look calm and possess a playful disposition.

In America, I have seen the freest and the best educated men in the happiest circumstances the world can afford; yet, it seemed to me that a cloud usually darkened their features and they appeared serious and almost sad even when they were enjoying themselves.

The main reason for this is that the first group ignore the sufferings they endure while the second constantly muse on the good things they are missing.

It is a strange thing to see the feverish enthusiasm which accompanies the Americans' pursuit of prosperity and the way they are ceaselessly tormented by the vague fear that they have failed to choose the shortest route to achieve it.

The inhabitants of the United States cling to the good things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and they are so impatient to snatch any that come within their grasp that they might be supposed to spend every moment frightened that they will stop living before being able to enjoy them. They snatch at them all without holding them fast; they soon let them slip from their hands in order to chase new pleasures.

At first, there is astonishment at the sight of this peculiar restlessness in so many happy men in the midst of abundance. Yet this is a sight as old as the world; what is new is to see a whole nation involved."

I never knew this sort of national attitude went back so far in history.