They could oppose their “positive energy” with the pessimism dominating European minds. They were only too willing to advise Europe to work harder and spend less, as legitimate pride mingled with an understandable desire to settle historical scores and attenuate their legacies of colonial submission and humiliation.
直到不久前，欧洲还是主要新兴经济体证实自身骄人成就的一面镜子。他们可以用自身的高增长与欧洲的高债务尽情的对比。他们可以对比自身的“积极活力”和主宰欧洲人思想的悲观情绪。他们洋洋得意地建议欧洲努力工作、节约开支，因为合情合理的骄傲中掺杂着可以理解的清算历史欠账、借以减轻他们曾经接受殖民的痛苦和屈辱的情绪。