As it defines itself, every society defines other societies. That definition almost always takes the form of a condemnation: the 'other' is the barbarian.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Even if one is interested only in one's own society, which is one's prerogative, one can understand that society much better by comparing it with others.
A society that is all self-interest and no comradeship is not a society at all. But a society that is all comradeship and no self-interest is also not a society; it is a sect - or, on the largest scale, totalitarianism.
A truly common culture is not one in which we all think alike, or in which we all believe that fairness is next to godliness, but one in which everyone is allowed to be in on the project of cooperatively shaping a common way of life.
It is also, I would guess, a universal that in all societies people value respectability granted to them.
Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man.
I consider that there are different degrees of civilization and there are many different ways of expressing it. But one is civilized or is not.
A society that admits misery, a humanity that admits war, seem to me an inferior society and a debased humanity; it is a higher society and a more elevated humanity at which I am aiming - a society without kings, a humanity without barriers.
Our society is the product of several great religious and philosophical traditions. The ideas of the Greeks and Romans, Christianity, Judaism, humanism and the Enlightenment have made us who we are.
Our society distributes itself into Barbarians, Philistines and Populace; and America is just ourselves with the Barbarians quite left out, and the Populace nearly.
Barbarians always think of themselves as the bringers of civilization.