Irving Babbitt Quotes

Irving Babbitt was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA. He was an American literary critic, essayist, philosopher and professor, noted for his founding role in a movement that became known as the New Humanism, a significant influence on literary discussion and conservative thought in the period between 1910 and 1930. He was a cultural critic in the tradition of Matthew Arnold and a consistent opponent of romanticism, as represented by the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His humanism implied a broad knowledge of various moral and religious traditions. He was educated at Harvard University and at the Sorbonne in Paris and taught French and comparative literature at Harvard from 1894 until his death. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1921. He wrote several books include: Literature and the American college, The new Laokoon, The masters of modern French criticism, Rousseau and romanticism, Democracy and Leadership, and On Being Creative(essays).