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.
INTERPRETATIONS OF POETRY AND RELIGION
THE SENSE OF BEAUTY
LITTLE ESSAYS DRAWN FROM THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE SANTAYANA
Edited with a Preface by LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH
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 composedof lectures originally addressed to Britishaudiences. I have added a good deal, butI make no apology, now that the whole mayfall under American eyes, for preserving thetone and attitude of a detached observer.Not at all on the ground that “to see ourselvesas others see us” would be to seeourselves truly; on the contrary, I agreewith Spinoza where he says that otherpeople’s idea of a man is apt to be a betterexpression of their nature than of his. Iaccept this principle in the present instance,and am willing it should be applied to thejudgements contained in this book, in whichthe reader may see chiefly expressions of myown feelings and hints of my own opinions.Only an American—and I am not one exceptby long association1—can speak for the heartof America. I try to understand it, as afamily friend may who has a different temperament;but it is only my own mind thatI speak for at bottom, or wish to speak for.Certainly my sentiments are of little importancecompared with the volume anddestiny of the things I discuss here: yet thecritic and artist too have their rights, and totake as calm and as long a view as possibleseems to be but another name for the loveof truth. Moreover, I suspect that my feelingsare secretly shared by many