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Socrates was worth more to a country than many such states as
South Carolina； that if that state went out of the world to…day；
she would not have done so much for the world as Socrates。 （17）
Great workers and great thinkers are the true makers of history；
which is but continuous humanity influenced by men of character
by great leaders； kings； priests； philosophers； statesmen； and
patriotsthe true aristocracy of man。 Indeed； Mr。 Carlyle has
broadly stated that Universal History is； at bottom； but the
history of Great Men。 They certainly mark and designate the
epochs of national life。 Their influence is active； as well as
reactive。 Though their mind is； in a measure； the product of
their age； the public mind is also； to a great extent； their
creation。 Their individual action identifies the causethe
institution。 They think great thoughts； cast them abroad； and the
thoughts make events。 Thus the early Reformers initiated the
Reformation； and with it the liberation of modern thought。
Emerson has said that every institution is to be regarded as but
the lengthened shadow of some great man： as Islamism of Mahomet；
Puritanism of Calvin； Jesuitism of Loyola； Quakerism of Fox；
Methodism of Wesley； Abolitionism of Clarkson。
Great men stamp their mind upon their age and nationas Luther
did upon modern Germany； and Knox upon Scotland。 （18） And if there
be one man more than another that stamped his mind on modern
Italy； it was Dante。 During the long centuries of Italian
degradation his burning words were as a watchfire and a beacon to
all true men。 He was the herald of his nation's libertybraving
persecution； exile； and death； for the love of it。 He was always
the most national of the Italian poets； the most loved； the most
read。 From the time of his death all educated Italians had his
best passages by heart； and the sentiments they enshrined
inspired their lives； and eventually influenced the history
of their nation。 〃The Italians；〃 wrote Byron in 1821；
〃talk Dante； write Dante； and think and dream Dante； at this
moment； to an excess which would be ridiculous； but that he
deserves their admiration。〃 （19）
A succession of variously gifted men in different agesextending
from Alfred to Alberthas in like manner contributed； by their
life and example； to shape the multiform character of England。 Of
these； probably the most influential were the men of the
Elizabethan and Cromwellian； and the intermediate periods
amongst which we find the great names of Shakspeare； Raleigh；
Burleigh； Sidney； Bacon； Milton； Herbert； Hampden； Pym； Eliot；
Vane； Cromwell； and many moresome of them men of great force；
and others of great dignity and purity of character。 The lives of
such men have become part of the public life of England； and their
deeds and thoughts are regarded as among the most cherished
bequeathments from the past。
So Washington left behind him； as one of the greatest treasures of
his country； the example of a stainless lifeof a great； honest；
pure； and noble charactera model for his nation to form
themselves by in all time to come。 And in the case of Washington；
as in so many other great leaders of men； his greatness did not so
much consist in his intellect； his skill； and his genius； as in
his honour； his integrity； his truthfulness； his high and
controlling sense of dutyin a word； in his genuine nobility
of character。
Men such as these are the true lifeblood of the country to which
they belong。 They elevate and uphold it； fortify and ennoble it；
and shed a glory over it by the example of life and character
which they have bequeathed。 〃The names and memories of great
men；〃 says an able writer； 〃are the dowry of a nation。 Widowhood；
overthrow； desertion； even slavery； cannot take away from her this
sacred inheritance。。。。 Whenever national life begins to
quicken。。。。 the dead heroes rise in the memories of men； and
appear to the living to stand by in solemn spectatorship and
approval。 No country can be lost which feels herself overlooked
by such glorious witnesses。 They are the salt of the earth； in
death as well as in life。 What they did once； their descendants
have still and always a right to do after them； and their example
lives in their country； a continual stimulant and encouragement
for him who has the soul to adopt it。〃 （20）
But it is not great men only that have to be taken into account in
estimating the qualities of a nation； but the character that
pervades the great body of the people。 When Washington Irving
visited Abbotsford； Sir Walter Scott introduced him to many of his
friends and favourites； not only amongst the neighbouring farmers；
but the labouring peasantry。 〃I wish to show you；〃 said Scott；
〃some of our really excellent plain Scotch people。 The character
of a nation is not to be learnt from its fine folks； its fine
gentlemen and ladies； such you meet everywhere； and they are
everywhere the same。〃 While statesmen； philosophers； and divines
represent the thinking power of society； the men who found
industries and carve out new careers； as well as the common body
of working…people； from whom the national strength and spirit are
from time to time recruited； must necessarily furnish the vital
force and constitute the real backbone of every nation。
Nations have their character to maintain as well as individuals；
and under constitutional governmentswhere all classes more or
less participate in the exercise of political powerthe national
character will necessarily depend more upon the moral qualities of
the many than of the few。 And the same qualities which determine
the character of individuals； also determine the character of
nations。 Unless they are highminded； truthful； honest； virtuous；
and courageous； they will be held in light esteem by other
nations； and be without weight in the world。 To have character；
they must needs also be reverential； disciplined； self…
controlling； and devoted to duty。 The nation that has no higher
god than pleasure； or even dollars or calico； must needs be in a
poor way。 It were better to revert to Homer's gods than be
devoted to these； for the heathen deities at least imaged human
virtues； and were something to look up to。
As for institutions； however good in themselves； they will avail
but little in maintaining the standard of national character。 It
is the individual men； and the spirit which actuates them； that
determine the moral standing and stability of nations。
Government； in the long run； is usually no better than the people
governed。 Where the mass is sound in conscience； morals； and
habit； the nation will be ruled honestly and nobly。 But where
they are corrupt； self…seeking； and dishonest in heart； bound
neither by truth nor by law； the rule of rogues and wirepullers
becomes inevitable。
The only true barrier against the despotism of public opinion；
whether it be of the many or of the few； is enlight