A man needs to look, not down, but up to standards set so much above his ordinary self as to make him feel that he is himself spiritually the underdog.

Quote by Irving Babbitt

Topics: Irving Babbitt Quotes

A person who has sympathy for mankind in the lump, faith in its future progress,...

A person who has sympathy for mankind in the lump, faith in its future progress,...

The industrial revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be...

The industrial revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be...

The papacy again, representing the traditional unity of European civilization, has also shown itself unable...

The papacy again, representing the traditional unity of European civilization, has also shown itself unable...

Robespierre, however, was not the type of leader finally destined to emerge from the Revolution.

Robespierre, however, was not the type of leader finally destined to emerge from the Revolution.

The true humanist maintains a just balance between sympathy and selection.

The true humanist maintains a just balance between sympathy and selection.

Since every man desires happiness, it is evidently no small matter whether he conceives of...

Since every man desires happiness, it is evidently no small matter whether he conceives of...

The humanitarian lays stress almost solely upon breadth of knowledge and sympathy.

The humanitarian lays stress almost solely upon breadth of knowledge and sympathy.

Tell him, on the contrary, that he needs, in the interest of his own happiness,...

Tell him, on the contrary, that he needs, in the interest of his own happiness,...

A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in...

A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in...

If we are to have such a discipline we must have standards, and to get...

If we are to have such a discipline we must have standards, and to get...

We may affirm, then, that the main drift of the later Renaissance was away from...

We may affirm, then, that the main drift of the later Renaissance was away from...

According to the new ethics, virtue is not restrictive but expansive, a sentiment and even...

According to the new ethics, virtue is not restrictive but expansive, a sentiment and even...

We must not, however, be like the leaders of the great romantic revolt who, in...

We must not, however, be like the leaders of the great romantic revolt who, in...

Democracy is now going forth on a crusade against imperialism.

Democracy is now going forth on a crusade against imperialism.

An American of the present day reading his Sunday newspaper in a state of lazy...

An American of the present day reading his Sunday newspaper in a state of lazy...

The democratic idealist is prone to make light of the whole question of standards and...

The democratic idealist is prone to make light of the whole question of standards and...

Act strenuously, would appear to be our faith, and right thinking will take care of...

Act strenuously, would appear to be our faith, and right thinking will take care of...

Furthermore, America suffers not only from a lack of standards, but also not infrequently from...

Furthermore, America suffers not only from a lack of standards, but also not infrequently from...

The humanities need to be defended to-day against the encroachments of physical science, as they...

The humanities need to be defended to-day against the encroachments of physical science, as they...

The ultimate binding element in the medieval order was subordination to the divine will and...

The ultimate binding element in the medieval order was subordination to the divine will and...