William Lecky Quotes

“Once upon a time there was a standard. It gave us men rich in thought - but all is trodden underfoot by a swinish multitude. Every area of intellectual endeavor is tainted. Over 120 years ago the historian of European morals, William Lecky, praised Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) for honesty and seriousness. Lecky said that although Carlyle was a very poor man for many years, he never sought wealth by advocating popular opinions, by pandering to common prejudices, or by veiling [his] most unpalatable beliefs. According to Lecky, Carlyle's standard of truthfulness was extremely high, and one of his great quarrels with his age was that it was an age of half-beliefs and insincere professions. Lecky tells us that Carlyle used to speak of men who 'played false with their intellects'; or, in other words, turned away their minds from unwelcome truths and by allowing their wishes or interests to sway their judgments, persuaded or half-persuaded themselves to believe whatever they wished. A firm grasp of facts, he maintained, was the first characteristic of an honest mind; the main element in all honest, intellectual work.”
― J.R.Nyquist