“Sanity — that is the great virtue of the ancient literature; the want of that is the great defect of the modern, in spite of its variety and power.”

"Preface to Poems" (1854)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Sanity — that is the great virtue of the ancient literature; the want of that is the great defect of the modern, in spi…" by Matthew Arnold?
Matthew Arnold photo
Matthew Arnold 166
English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector… 1822–1888

Related quotes

Dinesh D'Souza photo

“Virtue has great power, but not if it is imposed – only when it is chosen.”

Dinesh D'Souza (1961) Indian-American political commentator, filmmaker, author

The Washington Post, , quoted in * 2003-07-08 Cal Thomas Theological dictators Townhall.com 2019-09-06 https://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2003/07/08/theological-dictators-n752580

Vyasa photo

“He will be a man with strength of a myriad elephants, a great and royal rsi, of great fortune, great power, and great intelligence. And 100 powerful sons will be his, but because of his mother’s lack of virtue, he shall be born blind.”

Vyasa central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions

Vyasa’s curse to the first widowed wife of his half brother on the son to be born to them. His mother [Satyavati] had asked him to produce heirs to the throne with the two widows of his half-brother. The first princess closed her eyes as Vyasa was in fearful ascetic condition when he slept with her. In due time Dhritarshtra was born blind. Quoted in p. 58.
Sources, Seer of the Fifth Veda: Kr̥ṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa in the Mahābhārata

José Ortega Y Gasset photo

“All modern art begins to appear comprehensible and in a way great when it is interpreted as an attempt to instill youthfulness into an ancient world.”

José Ortega Y Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist

"Art a Thing of No Consequence"
The Dehumanization of Art and Ideas about the Novel (1925)
Context: Were art to redeem man, it could do so only by saving him from the seriousness of life and restoring him to an unexpected boyishness. The symbol of art is seen again in the magic flute of the Great God Pan which makes the young goats frisk at the edge of the grove.
All modern art begins to appear comprehensible and in a way great when it is interpreted as an attempt to instill youthfulness into an ancient world.

Robert G. Ingersoll photo

“Great virtues may draw attention from defects, they cannot sanctify them. A pebble surrounded by diamonds remains a common stone, and a diamond surrounded by pebbles is still a gem.”

Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899) Union United States Army officer

The Great Infidels (1881)
Context: Great virtues may draw attention from defects, they cannot sanctify them. A pebble surrounded by diamonds remains a common stone, and a diamond surrounded by pebbles is still a gem. No one should attempt to refute an argument by pronouncing the name of some man, unless he is willing to adopt all the ideas and beliefs of that man. It is better to give reasons and facts than names. An argument should not depend for its force upon the name of its author. Facts need no pedigree, logic has no heraldry, and the living should not awed by the mistakes of the dead.

Charles James Fox photo
Peggy Noonan photo

“A great speech is literature.”

Peggy Noonan (1950) American author and journalist
Milton Friedman photo
Adam Smith photo

“Upstart greatness is everywhere less respected than ancient greatness.”

Adam Smith (1723–1790) Scottish moral philosopher and political economist

Source: (1776), Book V, Chapter I, Part II, p. 773.

Slavoj Žižek photo

“Heidegger is 'great' not in spite of, but because of his Nazi engagement…”

Slavoj Žižek (1949) Slovene philosopher

In Defense of Lost Causes (2008)

Francesco Petrarca photo

“Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.”

De remediis utriusque fortunae (1354), Book II

Related topics