Benjamin Jowett to GE, Oxford, 7 May 1878
Title
Benjamin Jowett to GE, Oxford, 7 May 1878
Title
Benjamin Jowett to GE, Oxford, 7 May 1878
Sender
Benjamin Jowett
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1878-05-07
Place
Oxford
Letter Content
Benjamin Jowett to GE, Oxford, 7 May 1878
MS: University of Virginia.
Oxford May 7, 1878.
Dear Mrs. Lewes
Will you and Mr. Lewes give me the great pleasure of a visit this year? The servants asked me today "When is Mrs. Lewes coming?" and I venture to think with them that I have a vested interest or am beginning to acquire one. Shall I propose Saturday June 8th or would any other day suit you better?
I remember with great interest our walks and talks in the country. 439 I once thought of writing to you about this but feared I should take up your time to no purpose. It seemed to me that you were sometimes troubled with the want of seriousness in the public and indisposed to write because in this babble of voices nothing was heard. One certainly does feel in this age that a book is not made to be understood or appreciated, but to be criticized. But all this endless superficial criticism does not prevent a work of genius and character finding its way to the hearts of mankind. And though it is a queer age in which we live I suppose we should school ourselves to take the world of literature as it is in order that we may exert our whole strength in trying to rise above it. Almost anything worth writing must provoke a good deal of resentment in antipathetic minds which is very often the measure of its excellence and success.
The more I think of it the more I agree in what you said that the really great and abiding interest of philosophy is human motive. I can never go along with Mr. Herbert Spencer in system-making nor meet my friend Professor Green 440 and others in attempting to bring back the antiquated philosophies of Germany. But about human motive there is a great deal which might be taught mankind and has never been taught them, to their great loss. It is the natural way of supplying the religious want which is so deeply felt just now.
With best regards to Mr. Lewes, I remain, Dear Mrs. Lewes,
Yours most truly
B. Jowett.
I was very sorry to hear of the calamity which has befallen your friends the Hollands.
MS: University of Virginia.
Oxford May 7, 1878.
Dear Mrs. Lewes
Will you and Mr. Lewes give me the great pleasure of a visit this year? The servants asked me today "When is Mrs. Lewes coming?" and I venture to think with them that I have a vested interest or am beginning to acquire one. Shall I propose Saturday June 8th or would any other day suit you better?
I remember with great interest our walks and talks in the country. 439 I once thought of writing to you about this but feared I should take up your time to no purpose. It seemed to me that you were sometimes troubled with the want of seriousness in the public and indisposed to write because in this babble of voices nothing was heard. One certainly does feel in this age that a book is not made to be understood or appreciated, but to be criticized. But all this endless superficial criticism does not prevent a work of genius and character finding its way to the hearts of mankind. And though it is a queer age in which we live I suppose we should school ourselves to take the world of literature as it is in order that we may exert our whole strength in trying to rise above it. Almost anything worth writing must provoke a good deal of resentment in antipathetic minds which is very often the measure of its excellence and success.
The more I think of it the more I agree in what you said that the really great and abiding interest of philosophy is human motive. I can never go along with Mr. Herbert Spencer in system-making nor meet my friend Professor Green 440 and others in attempting to bring back the antiquated philosophies of Germany. But about human motive there is a great deal which might be taught mankind and has never been taught them, to their great loss. It is the natural way of supplying the religious want which is so deeply felt just now.
With best regards to Mr. Lewes, I remain, Dear Mrs. Lewes,
Yours most truly
B. Jowett.
I was very sorry to hear of the calamity which has befallen your friends the Hollands.
Signature
B. Jowett.
Citation
Benjamin Jowett, Benjamin Jowett to GE, Oxford, 7 May 1878, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91723