第19部分(第5/7 頁)

form　from

the　actual　achievements　of　the　national　genius；　and　from　the　vital　agency　by　which　those

achievements　have　been　performed。　We　have　then　before　us　a　real　and　an　ideal　existence　of　the

Spirit　of　the　Nation。　If　we　wish　to　gain　the　general　idea　and　conception　of　what　the　Greeks　were；

we　find　it　in　Sophocles　and　Aristophanes；　in　Thucydides　and　Plato。　In　these　individuals　the　Greek

spirit　conceived　and　thought　itself。　This　is　the　profounder　kind　of　satisfaction　which　the　Spirit　of　a

people　attains；　but　it　is　“ideal；”　and　distinct　from　its　“real”　activity。

§　90

At　such　a　time；　therefore；　we　are　sure　to　see　a　people　finding　satisfaction　in　the　idea　of　virtue；

putting　talk　about　virtue　partly　side　by　side　with　actual　virtue；　but　partly　in　the　place　of　it。　On　the

other　hand　pure；　universal　thought；　since　its　nature　is　universality；　is　apt　to　bring　the　Special　and

Spontaneous　—　Belief；　Trust；　Customary　Morality　—　to　reflect　upon　itself；　and　its　primitive

simplicity；　to　show　up　the　limitation　with　which　it　is　fettered；　—　partly　suggesting　reasons　for

renouncing　duties；　partly　itself　demanding　reasons；　and　the　connection　of　such　requirements　with

Universal　Thought；　and　not　finding　that　connection；　seeking　to　impeach　the　authority　of　duty

generally；　as　destitute　of　a　sound　foundation。

§　91

At　the　same　time　the　isolation　of　individuals　from　each　other　and　from　the　Whole　makes　its

appearance；　their　aggressive　selfishness　and　vanity；　their　seeking　personal　advantage　and

consulting　this　at　the　expense　of　the　State　at　large。　That　inward　principle　in　transcending　its

outward　manifestations　is　subjective　also　in　form　—　viz。；　selfishness　and　co