Destined Quote by Irving Babbitt

The ultimate binding element in the medieval order was subordination to the divine will and its earthly representatives, notably the pope.

— Irving Babbitt

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

— Irving Babbitt

It is well to open one's mind but only as a preliminary to closing it ... for the supreme act of judgment and selection.

— Irving Babbitt

To harmonize the One with the Many, this is indeed a difficult adjustment, perhaps the most difficult of all, and so important, withal, that…

— Irving Babbitt

We must not, however, be like the leaders of the great romantic revolt who, in their eagerness to get rid of the husk of…

— Irving Babbitt

Perhaps as good a classification as any of the main types is that of the three lusts distinguished by traditional Christianity - the lust…

— Irving Babbitt

Furthermore, America suffers not only from a lack of standards, but also not infrequently from a confusion or an inversion of standards.

— Irving Babbitt

An American of the present day reading his Sunday newspaper in a state of lazy collapse is one of the most perfect symbols of…

— Irving Babbitt

Inasmuch as society cannot go on without discipline of some kind, men were constrained, in the absence of any other form of discipline, to…

— Irving Babbitt

If quantitatively the American achievement is impressive, qualitatively it is somewhat less satisfying.

— Irving Babbitt

Very few of the early Italian humanists were really humane.

— Irving Babbitt

A man needs to look, not down, but up to standards set so much above his ordinary self as to make him feel that…

— Irving Babbitt