Reply #34: The quote, as given, was traceable to a Novak [View All]

Michael Novak that is.

December 30, 2003, 12:00 a.m.
A Spartan Athens
America today.

Many people have noted the influence of Greece on American architecture and early culture. Students at Harvard, Princeton, and other major universities during the Founding period of the U.S. (1770-1800) faced tough Greek exams, and made annual declamations in Greek. Aristotle's ethical and political writings were especially influential, along with Greek historians and dramatists. Several of our 50 states named one of its cities "Athens" — and a great many of our school sports teams call themselves "Spartans." (One of the best calls its athletes "the Trojans.") The United States is self-consciously a child of the ancient civilization of Greece and Rome.

During long periods, America looks too pacific to be a threat to the likes of Hitler and Mussolini. Too much like Athens gone soft. But at times such as the present — with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — the Spartan dimension of our civilization becomes visible to all doubters. The biggest thing that most Europeans don't know about America is Spartan side. Our Founders chose the eagle as the symbol for the nation because the eagle is supreme in war, seeing unblinkingly and at great distances. Once fixed on its prey, the eagle is not easily deterred.

Our Founders well knew that democracy itself softens manners, tames — even coddles — the human spirit, and pulls great spirits down to a lower common level. No democracy will long survive, they knew, that does not toughen itself to face adversity, to raise up warriors, and to keep ready a warlike spirit. A democratic army should be small, under civilian control, they insisted, kept safely away from political power, but committed to keeping those who serve in it fearless and invincible.

In a word, in order to survive and to prosper, democracies need to infuse a Spartan spirit into their Athenian thinking. To maintain the peace, prepare for war. A democracy too soft will soon perish.

The rest of the article is at: http://www.nationalreview.com/novak/novak200312300000.asp