Abstract

An educated Englishman can live his whole life without once reflecting on the historical destiny and purpose of his people. He senses directly that his people lives as a whole and that the path of its history is continuous. But whence this path leads, and whether it is the correct one — how can one know? It is obvious that it is not within the powers of the individual mind to comprehend a phenomenon of this scope. The face of a living people is like the fiery sun: it can be seen by all, but not looked at. Only cold suns, only the dead countenances of Egypt, Greece, Rome can we endeavor to survey as a whole — and even this without great success.