CHARACTER AND OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE SAME AUTHOR THE LIFE OF REASON OR THE PHASES OF HUMAN PROGRESS Vol. I. Reason in Common Sense. Vol. II. Reason in Society. Vol. III. Reason in Religion. Vol. IV. Reason in Art. Vol. V. Reason in Science. [image] INTERPRETATIONS OF POETRY AND RELIGION [image] THE SENSE OF BEAUTY [image] LITTLE ESSAYS DRAWN FROM THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE SANTAYANA Edited with a Preface by LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH [image] *CHARACTER & OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES* *WITH REMINISCENCES OF WILLIAM JAMES AND JOSIAH ROYCE* *AND ACADEMIC LIFE IN AMERICA* BY GEORGE SANTAYANA LATE PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1921 _First Published 1920_ _Reprinted 1921_ PREFACE The major part of this book is composed of lectures originally addressed to British audiences. I have added a good deal, but I make no apology, now that the whole may fall under American eyes, for preserving the tone and attitude of a detached observer. Not at all on the ground that “to see ourselves as others see us” would be to see ourselves truly; on the contrary, I agree with Spinoza where he says that other people’s idea of a man is apt to be a better expression of their nature than of his. I accept this principle in the present instance, and am willing it should be applied to the judgements contained in this book, in which the reader may see chiefly expressions of my own feelings and hints of my own opinions. Only an American—and I am not one except by long association¹—can speak for the heart of America. I try to understand it, as a family friend may who has a different temperament; but it is only my own mind that I speak for at bottom, or wish to speak for. Certainly my sentiments are of little importance compared with the volume and destiny of the things I discuss here: yet the critic and artist too have their rights, and to take as calm and as long a view as possible seems to be but another name for the love of truth. Moreover, I suspect that my feelings are secretly shared by many people in America, natives and foreigners, who may not have the courage or the occasion to express them frankly. After all, it has been acquaintance with America and American philosophers that has chiefly contributed to clear and to settle my own mind. I have no axe to grind, only my thoughts to burnish, in the hope that some part of the truth of things may be reflected there; and I am confident of not giving serious offence to the judicious, because they will feel that it is affection for the American people that makes me wish that what is best and most beautiful should not be absent from their lives.