Discretion and reserve are two of the trait that go into making up the English caracter. The English are ofen polite to the point where over nations would accuse them of hypocrisy. Consider the case of the man in the Underground during rush hour who say timidely to the person next to him : ' Excuse me, sir, but I ' m afraid that I ' ve been stupid enough to put my foot underneath yours. Could you possibely move ? It can sometimes be dificult to navigate frough the shark-infested waters of politeness.