"D" for dreams (or idealism), "H" for a sense of
humor, and adding one important ingredient "S" for sensitivity. And further let "4"
stand for "abnormally high, " "3" stand for "high, " "2" for "fair, " and "1" for
"low, " and we have the following pseudo-chemical formulas for the following national
characters. Human beings and communities behave then differently according to their
different compositions, as sulphates and sulphides or carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide behave differently from one another. For me, the interesting thing always
is to watch how human communities or nations behave differently under identical
conditions. As we cannot invent words like "humoride" and "numerate" after the fashion
of chemistry, we may put it thus: "3 grains of Realism, 2 grains of Dreams, 2 grains
of Humor and 1 grain of Sensitivity make an Englishman. "
Q) I am not objecting to the limited utility of intelligence tests, but to their
claims to mathematical accuracy or constant dependability as measures of human
personality.
In the sense of the French word sensibilite.
Some might with good reason suggest the including of an "L" standing for logic
or the rational faculty, as an important element in shaping human progress . This
"L" will then often function or weigh against sensitivity, a direct perception of
things. Such a formula might be attempted. For me personally, the role of the rational
faculty in human affairs is rather low.

R3DzH2Si = The English R2D3H3&, = The French R3D3H2S; = The Americans R3D4HiS2= The
Germans
R2D4H[Si = The Russians R2D3HiSi= The Japanese R4DiH3S3= The Chinese
I do not know the Italians, the Spanish, the Hindus and others well enough even to
essay a formula on the subject, realizing that the above are shaky enough as they
are, and in any case are enough to bring down a storm of criticism upon my head.
Probably these formulas are more provocative than authoritative. I promise to modify
them gradually for my own use as new facts are brought to my knowledge, or new
impressions are formed. That is all they are worth today a record of the progress
of my knowledge and the gaps of my ignorance.
Some observations may be necessary. It is easy to see that I regard the Chinese as
most closely allied to the French in their sense of humor and sensitivity, as is quite
evident from the way the French write their books and eat their food, while the more
volatile character of the French comes from their greater idealism, which takes the
form of love of abstract ideas (recall the manifestoes of their literary, artistic
and political movements) . " R4" for Chinese realism makes the Chinese the most
realistic people; "Di" accounts for something of a drag in the changes in their pattern﹌本﹌作﹌品﹌由﹌﹌網﹌提﹌供﹌下﹌載﹌與﹌在﹌線﹌閱﹌讀﹌
or ideal of life. The high figures for Chinese humor and sensitivity, as well as for
their realism, are perhaps due to my too close association and the vividness of my
impressions. For Chinese sensitivity, little justification is needed; the whole story
of Chinese prose, poetry and painting proclaims it. ... The Japanese and Germans are
very much alike in their comparative lack of humor (such is the general impression
of people), yet it is really impossible to give a "zero" for any one characteristic
in any one nation, not even for idealism in the Chinese people. It is all a question
of degree; such statements as a complete lack of this or that quality are not based
on an intimate knowledge of the peoples. For this reason, I give the Japanese and
the Germans "Hi, " instead of "Ho, " and I intuitively feel that I am right. But I
do believe that the Japanese and the Germans suffer politically at present, and have
suffered in the past, for lacking a better sense of humor. How a Prussian Geheimrat
loves to be called a Geheimrat, and how he loves his buttons and metal pins! A certain
belief in "logical necessity" (often "holy" or "sacred"), a tendency to fly too
straight at a goal instead