Religion and the Rise of Capitalism · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The epigraph quotes Bishop Berkeley, emphasizing that deep contemplation of God, the human mind, and the highest good is essential for true patriotism and statesmanship, contrasting with a merely worldly success.
What happens
The epigraph quotes Bishop Berkeley, emphasizing that deep contemplation of God, the human mind, and the highest good is essential for true patriotism and statesmanship, contrasting with a merely worldly success.
Key passages
“Whatever the world thinks, he who hath not much meditated upon God, the human mind, and the summum bonum , may possibly make a thriving earthworm, but will most indubitably make a sorry patriot and a sorry statesman.”
No matter what society believes, a person who has not deeply reflected on God, the human mind, and the ultimate good may succeed in worldly terms but will certainly fail as a patriot and statesman.
Berkeley argues that spiritual and philosophical contemplation is foundational to virtuous leadership.