the great image of silent authority, a of George Washington,” was statesman “protégé “a designated by destiny, with nothing to do but look directly ahead, follow orders, and march” (40). When Senator Timothy Howe likens Adams to a begonia later in the book, Adams considers it his of the successful statesman”: always in the most prominent “ideal “standing positions” despite having useful purpose” (228). Adams’s heroes, educative as they are, “no don’t really do much in the They’re transcendent, but they stand for Adams far more Education. as living monuments to provide ideals to emulate, rather than as active, instrumental forces. According to Adams and others, these great men were disappearing. In the first half of the nineteenth century, Tocqueville and Mill had mourned the passing of great men in democratic times. Carlyle wrote in reaction to what he saw as the leveling of human life Heroes in a universe.” In Carlyle’s fictional Teufelsdröckh claimed Sartor Resartus, “machine “the Universe was all void of Life, of Purpose, of Volition, even of Hostility: it was one huge, dead, immeasurable Steam-engine, rolling on, in its dead indifference, to grind me limb from limb.” According to these authors, the democracies of America and Europe brought with equality a humbling mediocrity from which few great men could emerge. In the 1835 introduction to the first volume of Tocqueville lamented what he saw as the loss of Democracy in America, “the majesty of laws”: people despise authority while fearing it.” Worse yet, have destroyed “the “we those independent beings who were capable of fighting single-handed against tyranny.” In 1859, as Adams left college, Mill echoed similar regrets in The order of the day in On Liberty. democratic times was The people no longer learn from in Church or “mediocrity.” “dignitaries State”: government by a democracy or a numerous aristocracy… ever did or could rise “No above mediocrity, except in so far as the sovereign Many have let themselves be guided (which in their best times they always have done).” Both Tocqueville and Mill, whom Adams at one
the great image of silent authority, a “protégé of George Washington,” was “a statesman designated by destiny, with nothing to do but look directly ahead, follow orders, and march” (40). When Senator Timothy Howe likens Adams to a begonia later in the book, Adams considers it his “ideal of the successful statesman”: “standing always in the most prominent positions” despite having “no useful purpose” (228). Adams’s heroes, educative as they are, don’t really do much in the Education. They’re transcendent, but they stand for Adams far more as living monuments to provide ideals to emulate, rather than as active, instrumental forces. According to Adams and others, these great men were disappearing. In the first half of the nineteenth century, Tocqueville and Mill had mourned the passing of great men in democratic times. Carlyle wrote Heroes in reaction to what he saw as the leveling of human life in a “machine universe.” In Sartor Resartus, Carlyle’s fictional Teufelsdröckh claimed “the Universe was all void of Life, of Purpose, of Volition, even of Hostility: it was one huge, dead, immeasurable Steam-engine, rolling on, in its dead indifference, to grind me limb from limb.” According to these authors, the democracies of America and Europe brought with equality a humbling mediocrity from which few great men could emerge. In the 1835 introduction to the first volume of Democracy in America, Tocqueville lamented what he saw as the loss of “the majesty of laws”: “the people despise authority while fearing it.” Worse yet, “we have destroyed those independent beings who were capable of fighting single-handed against tyranny.” In 1859, as Adams left college, Mill echoed similar regrets in On Liberty. The order of the day in democratic times was “mediocrity.” The people no longer learn from “dignitaries in Church or State”: “No government by a democracy or a numerous aristocracy… ever did or could rise above mediocrity, except in so far as the sovereign Many have let themselves be guided (which in their best times they always have done).” Both Tocqueville and Mill, whom Adams at one
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