Romania’s national character is suspicious and mean-spirited toward itself
—Central European Review. Journalist Timothy Kenny believes that acquiescence to fate is the prime limiting factor in Romanian social and political progress. "Here's how a Romanian friend of mine put it recently: 'If something goes well, a Romanian will say: 'Of course, I knew it. I made this happen.' If something goes wrong, the same Romanian will look at the sky and say, 'Who could have known? It is fate!'"'
