BRITISH IDENTITY AND THE GERMAN OTHER A Dissertation ...

downright honest unpretending specimen of humanity, indefatigable, solid, quiet, sensible and
valiant.” 31
Negative elements of the Old German stereotype in Weber’s work included “morbid
sensibility,” superstition, pedantry, rudeness, slowness, “lumbering heaviness,” phlegm (“The
North German postilion exemplifies the truly phlegmatic character, . . . nothing discomposes him
so long as his pipe only smokes and his schnapps is paid.”) and servility, “pusillanimous
humility,” a “dull tame submissiveness, which begot our woeful spirit of imitation, our pompous
concern about trifles, and our wonderfully low estimate of our own dignity—a very dog’s
humility.” Servility tarnished the stereotype of the rustic simpleton or German Michael, who
“allows himself to be kicked in the rear quietly, and then asks Was beliebt? (What’s your will?).”
The German use of certain “respectful” phrases in addressing titled personages allegedly
signified a “moral debasement,” an observation indicative of the extent to which the stereotype of
political subservience had undermined evaluations of German culture and character. 32 Weber
attempted to soften these national character defects by appealing to the “historical grandeur” of
the Teutonic race, to Germany’s medieval prominence and Christian humility, or to her newer
reputation for intellectual superiority, erudition and scientific accuracy. For English writers, and
probably readers, however, the negative qualities of German servility, phlegm, artistic mediocrity
and political ineptitude were not so easily dismissed, because they characterized an older, more
innocuous Germany that entertained no pretense of rivalry with allegedly superior English
culture.
31 Ibid., 124-25, 127.
32 Ibid., 128-30.
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