The Greek word euphuia, a finely tempered nature, gives exactly
the notion of perfection as culture brings us to perceive it; a
harmonious perfection, a perfection in which the characters of
beauty and intelligence are both present, which unites "the two
noblest of things"--as Swift . . . most happily calls them in his
Battle of the Books, "the two noblest of things, sweetness and
light."
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The pursuit of the perfect, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and
light.
The pursuit of the perfect, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and
light.
Every sweet hath its sour, every evil its good.
Every sweet hath its sour, every evil its good.
The sweetest thing that ever grew
Beside a human door.
The sweetest thing that ever grew
Beside a human door.
Sometimes I'm so sweet even I can't stand it.
Sometimes I'm so sweet even I can't stand it.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the read more
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
To pile up honey upon sugar, and sugar upon honey, to an
interminable tedious sweetness.
To pile up honey upon sugar, and sugar upon honey, to an
interminable tedious sweetness.
Culture is the passion for sweetness and light, and (what is
more) the passion for making them prevail.
Culture is the passion for sweetness and light, and (what is
more) the passion for making them prevail.
Nor waste their sweetness in the desert air.
Nor waste their sweetness in the desert air.
Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
Sweet meat must have sour sauce.
