His merit is that he did in a small and rhetorical way what Montesquieu and Voltaire afterwards did in a truly comprehensive and philosophical way; he pressed forward general ideas in connection with the recorded movements of the chief races of mankind.
Morley acknowledges the contributions of earlier thinkers while highlighting their limitations compared to later philosophers.
Share
More from John Morley
True merit once resigned, No trick nor feint will serve as well.
Happy the man who from out the floods has fled the storm and found the haven; happy too is he who has surmounted toil and trouble.—Bacchae, 902-5.
Individuals may recover from even serious sickness; it does not appear to be the way with governments.”—Mr.
Can wool repair The colours that it lost when soaked with dye?
Other voices in this conversation
