On Henry James's "Daisy Miller"

Usually prejudices happen because of people’s miscomprehension and unwillingness to know about each other. Most often, it is in their nature to defend their positions and viewpoints not because they might be right, but only due to some blind patriotism, which is inherent almost to every man belonging to any nation. And it is quite natural, and is certainly good from one side, but there are numerous drawbacks in it: people and whole nations are unwilling to listen not only to each other, moreover, sometimes they are even disinclined and reluctant to listen to reason and sound mind as well. That often becomes the cause of wars and quarrels on a large scale. That is speaking about peoples. In the society, things are usually more unsophisticated. What seemed right and immaculate for the ones, was absolutely incomprehensible, and odd, and morally corrupted for the others. Morality has always had this double aspect about itself. And so that not to turn out to be awkward and tactless it has always been so: one was supposed to present himself to society by somehow disguising his real nature and intentions and thus, pretend to wear this sophisticated virtuous appearance. In other words, people with other values and different ways of behaviour, manners and psychos have always been condemned. If not openly, then in the dark corners of drawing-rooms of Mistresses Costellos and Walkers and the like unwilling to accept and realize that there might and must be difference between us, no matter of American or English origin. …