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

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...

For behind all imperialism is ultimately the imperialistic individual, just as behind all peace is...

For behind all imperialism is ultimately the imperialistic individual, just as behind all peace is...

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...

Democracy is now going forth on a crusade against imperialism.

Democracy is now going forth on a crusade against imperialism.

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 humanitarian would, of course, have us meddle in foreign affairs as part of his...

The humanitarian would, of course, have us meddle in foreign affairs as part of his...

To say that most of us today are purely expansive is only another way of...

To say that most of us today are purely expansive is only another way of...

Very few of the early Italian humanists were really humane.

Very few of the early Italian humanists were really humane.

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...

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...

To harmonize the One with the Many, this is indeed a difficult adjustment, perhaps the...

To harmonize the One with the Many, this is indeed a difficult adjustment, perhaps the...

Inasmuch as society cannot go on without discipline of some kind, men were constrained, in...

Inasmuch as society cannot go on without discipline of some kind, men were constrained, in...

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,...

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.

Yet Aristotle's excellence of substance, so far from being associated with the grand style, is...

Yet Aristotle's excellence of substance, so far from being associated with the grand style, is...

Anyone who thus looks up has some chance of becoming worthy to be looked up...

Anyone who thus looks up has some chance of becoming worthy to be looked up...

If a man went simply by what he saw, he might be tempted to affirm...

If a man went simply by what he saw, he might be tempted to affirm...

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...

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 true humanist maintains a just balance between sympathy and selection.

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