We may affirm, then, that the main drift of the later Renaissance was away from a humanism that favored a free expansion toward a humanism that was in the highest degree disciplinary and selective.

Quote by Irving Babbitt

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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...

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

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

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...

A man needs to look, not down, but up to standards set so much above...

A man needs to look, not down, but up to standards set so much above...

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,...

Perhaps as good a classification as any of the main types is that of the...

Perhaps as good a classification as any of the main types is that of the...

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...

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...

A remarkable feature of the humanitarian movement, on both its sentimental and utilitarian sides, has...

A remarkable feature of the humanitarian movement, on both its sentimental and utilitarian sides, has...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

The human mind, if it is to keep its sanity, must maintain the nicest balance...

The human mind, if it is to keep its sanity, must maintain the nicest balance...

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...

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.

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...

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...