"A princess would be raised to show respect for her elders." Nina bowed her head in deference to the count. "I wasn't referring to myself, Nina... By 'elders,' I meant the gray-haired."

Nina nodded to express her understanding. "You mean the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses?"

"Well, yes, certainly them, but I mean the elders of every social class. The shopkeepers and milkmaids, blacksmiths and peasants."

Never hesitant to express her sentiments with facial expressions, Nina frowned. The count elaborated.

"The principle here is that the new generation owes a measure of thanks to every member of the previous generation. Our elders planted fields and fought in wars. They advanced the arts and sciences, and generally made sacrifices on our behalf. So, by their efforts, however humble, they have earned a measure of our gratitude and respect."

[Anna tells Count Rostov], "Half of the inhabitants of Europe would move to America tomorrow just for the conveniences."

"Conveniences? What conveniences?"

[she gets out Life Magazine and shows him washing machines, dishwashers, vacuums, toasters, TVs, and an automatic garage door]

"What is an automatic garage door?" [asks the Count]

"It is a garage door which opens and closes itself on your behalf. What do you think of that?"

"I think, if I were a garage door, I would rather miss the old days."

...

"I'll tell you what is convenient," he said, after a moment. "To sleep until noon and have someone bring you your breakfast on a tray. To cancel an appointment at the very last minute. To keep a carriage waiting at the door of one party so that, on a moment's notice, it can whisk you away to another. To sidestep marriage in your youth, and put off having children altogether. These are the greatest of conveniences, Annushka, and at one time, I had them all. But, in the end, it has been the inconveniences that have mattered to me most." [referring to Anna, Sofia, etc.]