It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, themost self-conscious people inthe world, and themost addictedtothebeliefthattheothernations of the earth are in a conspiracy to under value them.

-James, Henry
  Hawthorne, ch.6.

Poetry in this latter age hath proved but a mean mistress to such as have whollyaddicted themselves to her, or given their names up to her family. They who have but saluted her on the by, and now and then tendered their visits, she hath done much for, and advanced in the way of their own professions (both the law and the gospel) beyond all they could have hoped, or done for themselves without her favour.

-Jonson, Ben
Timber: or Discoveries made upon Men and Matter (published 1640).