“I have had such a sickening of men in masses, and of causes, that I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium. I speak only for myself, mind–it is my own truth alone–but man as part of a movement or a crowd is indifferent to me. He is inhuman. And I have nothing to do with nations, or nationalism. The only feelings I have–for what they are–are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone.”
Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander
Terry Teachout on the arts in New York City
An ArtsJournal Blog