One of the most prevailing defects in this people is their invincible indolence, and hatred of labour, which has, at all times, paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most brilliant enterprises.

I′m going to take a shower. (especially US)

The situation is like that in the Chesterfieldian (or is it perhaps actually Chestertonian?) definition of a gentleman: One who is never rude by accident.

a mild anaesthetic