George Santayana

Author profile

born

in Madrid, Spain

December 16, 1863

died

September 26, 1952

gender

male

genre

Philosophy

influences

William James, Josiah Royce, Lucretius

About this author

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Philosopher, poet, literary and cultural critic, George Santayana is a principal figure in Classical American Philosophy. His naturalism and emphasis on creative imagination were harbingers of important intellectual turns on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a naturalist before naturalism grew popular; he appreciated multiple perfections before multiculturalism became an issue; he thought of philosophy as literature before it became a theme in American and European scholarly circles; and he managed to naturalize Platonism, update Aristotle, fight off idealisms, and provide a striking and sensitive account of the spiritual life without being a religious believer. His Hispanic heritage, shaded by his sense of being an outsider in America, ca...more

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George Santayana's Books

Average rating: 3.93 · 360 ratings · 38 reviews · 59 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Sense of Beauty 3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 99 ratings — published 1955 — 17 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Last Puritan: A Memoir in the Form of a Novel by George Santayana, William J. Holzberger (Editor), Herman J. Saatkamp Jr. (Editor) 3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 42 ratings — published 1936 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Scepticism and Animal Faith 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 33 ratings — published 1923 — 7 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Life of Reason: Five Volumes in One 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 33 ratings — published 1905 — 14 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Three Philosophical Poets: Lucretius, Dante And Goethe 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 1953 — 9 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Some Turns of Thought in Modern Philosophy. Five Essays 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2003 — 12 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Birth of Reason and Other Essays 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1968 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Persons and Places by George Santayana, William G. Holzberger (Editor), Herman J. Saatkamp Jr. (Editor) 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 1944 — 11 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Character and Opinion in the United States 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 1920 — 7 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Interpretations of Poetry and Religion by George Santayana, The Santayana Edition (Editor) 4.67 of 5 stars 4.67 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1957 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by George Santayana

“The earth has music for those who listen.”
― George Santayana

tags: nature

1,783 people liked it

“Sanity is a madness put to good uses.”
― George Santayana, The Essential Santayana: Selected Writings

tags: madness, sanity

1,512 people liked it

“The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is shot through with beauty, with love, with glints of courage and laughter; and in these, the spirit blooms timidly, and struggles to the light amid the thorns.”
― George Santayana

66 people liked it

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George Santayana

Author profile

combine editionsGeorge Santayana's Books

Quotes by George Santayana

Topics Mentioning This Author

combine editions
George Santayana's Books