Word: great
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1900-1909
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Sanders Theatre, President Eliot said that Milton expresses the aims and ideals of Harvard University by his life more than any other man. He was one of the greatest Puritans of his time, and Harvard College was founded by Puritans to supply a religious education. He was a great writer of prose and poetry, and teaching the English language is one of the greatest aims of the University. He was the apostle of civil and religious liberty, which is what Harvard College was dedicated to at the outset...
...progress in which there were many famous men, among whom he was one of the greatest. His life can be divided into three parts: his early years as a student and scholar; his share in the struggles of the day; and his retirement and the writing of his great epic poem. Milton went to college to become a minister in the Anglican Church, but he never carried out this intention for he believed that the people should rule in religious matters, not the bishops. He joined the Presbyterian Church but as that did not conform to his ideas he left...
...prose has not received the attention due it by scholars; it has been slighted because it calls to account king, church, council, and common law. This prose should be read especially by Americans, because it is one of the forerunners of their liberty. In Paradise Lost Milton shows his great spiritual thought; for the Holy Bible is the only work in English that surpasses it in this respect. The poet himself is one of the "kings" of the English race, no one surpassing him in pureness of character...
From the point of view of the audience, a phase of the subject very generally neglected in such things, the change should be most acceptable. The formal debate of today is undoubtedly of great value to the participant, but it is not interesting to the average man. It is too technical, and redundant. The proposed contest will be considerably shorter, more varied, and more comprehensible. The emphasis on the literary quality, the power to please and persuade an audience, should bring out that phase in which our debating is weakest. Altogether, the new arrangements are to the advantage...
...gave the latter practically complete freedom. Unless we do follow this plan they are likely to fight for their liberty, as has happened often before. Thus we first submitted to England and ended by gaining our liberty, although we were then but a small and weak country. The other great colonizing power of the world, England, has given Egypt a form of self-government. This is our duty; the longer we put it off, the harder it will be. The freedom of the Philippines will be an advantage to the United States as well as to the islanders themselves...