Thomas Carlyle and the French Revolution

[rich]

couldnt help but think here is a history that but echoes the present day
unconsciously such like M&D, a history that but consciously echoes the
present day. god knows much is missed by my addled brain but flourishes
like this makes me continue

rich

'But of those decadent ages in which no Ideal either grows or blossoms?
When Belief and Loyalty have passed away, and only the cant and false echo
of them remains; and all Solemnity has become Pageantry; and the Creed of
persons in authority has become one of two things: an Imbecility or a
Macchiavelism? Alas, of these ages World-History can take no notice; they
have to become compressed more and more, and finally suppressed in the
Annals of Mankind; blotted out as spurious,--which indeed they are. Hapless
ages: wherein, if ever in any, it is an unhappiness to be born. To be born,
and to learn only, by every tradition and example, that God's Universe is
Belial's and a Lie; and 'the Supreme Quack' the hierarch of men! In which
mournfulest faith, nevertheless, do we not see whole generations (two, and
sometimes even three successively) live, what they call living; and
vanish,--without chance of reappearance?
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