From his loftiest pulpit the modern clerc assures man that he is great in proportion as he is practical.
Julien Benda
Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war but on the love of peace.
peace war
Nothing seems to me more doubtful than Aristotle's remark that it is probable the arts and philosophy have several times been discovered and several times lost.
philosophy thetimes time art
And History will smile to think that this is the species for which Socrates and Jesus Christ died.
history
The modern clercs have created in so-called cultivated society a positive romanticism of harshness. The have also created a romanticism of contempt.
society
I shall go further and say that even if an examination of the past could lead to any valid prediction concerning man's future, that prediction would be the contrary of reassuring.
prediction man
The man of science, the artist, the philosopher are attached to their nations as much as the day-laborer and the merchant.
nations man science
That teaching of modern metaphysics which exhorts man to feel comparatively little esteem for the truly thinking portion of himself and to honor the active and willing part of himself with all his devotion..
honor man
man
The desire to abase the values of knowledge before the values of action..
action
It may be said that modern Europe with teachers who inform it that its realist instincts are beautiful, acts ill and honors what is ill.
honor
One of the principle causes is that the modern world has made the clerc into a citizen, subject to all the responsibilities of a citizen, and consequently to despise lay passions is far more difficult for him than for his predecessors.
principles
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