Lord Shaftesbury
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Anthony Ashley Cooper was born on February 25, 1621, in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset. He is commonly known as the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.
Birth and Death Dates
February 25, 1621 - January 21, 1683
Nationality and Profession(s)
English statesman, philosopher, and politician
As a prominent figure in English politics during the 17th century, Lord Shaftesbury played a pivotal role in shaping the country's social and economic landscape.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Ashley Cooper was born into a family of distinction. His father, William Cooper, was a wealthy merchant who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dorset. Cooper's early life was marked by privilege and education at St John's College, Cambridge. He later studied law but abandoned his studies to pursue a career in politics.
Major Accomplishments
Lord Shaftesbury's political career spanned several decades, with notable achievements including:
Chancellor of the Exchequer (1672-1673): During this period, he implemented significant economic reforms, such as the establishment of the first national debt and a comprehensive system for taxing land.
Leader of the Opposition (1678-1681): Shaftesbury spearheaded opposition to King Charles II's rule, advocating for greater parliamentary representation and individual liberties.
Promoter of Social Reform: He championed various social causes, including:
The abolition of the Test Act
Advocacy for the rights of non-conformist churches
Support for education reform
Notable Works or Actions
Several notable works and actions highlight Lord Shaftesbury's impact on English society:
`Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times` (1711): This philosophical work outlines his views on human nature, morality, and the role of government.
`Soliloquy, or Advice to an Author` (1710): In this satirical essay, Shaftesbury critiques contemporary literature and offers guidance for writers.
Impact and Legacy
Lord Shaftesbury's influence extended far beyond his own time:
Influence on Enlightenment Thinkers: His ideas about human nature and government resonated with influential thinkers like John Locke and Immanuel Kant.
Social Reform Movement: Shaftesbury's advocacy for education, individual liberties, and social justice laid the groundwork for future movements.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lord Shaftesbury's enduring relevance can be attributed to his:
Pioneering ideas about human nature
Advocacy for social reform and individual liberties
* Influence on Enlightenment thinkers
His legacy serves as a testament to the power of courageous leadership in shaping a more just society.
Quotes by Lord Shaftesbury
Lord Shaftesbury's insights on:
The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth. For all beauty is truth.
Remember that there is nothing in God but what is godlike; and that He is either not at all, or truly and perfectly good.
Gravity is of the very essence of imposture; it does not only mistake other things, but is apt perpetually almost to mistake itself.
To love the public, to study universal good, and to promote the interest of the whole world, as far as lies within our power, is the height of goodness, and makes that temper which we call divine.
If we are told a man is religious we still ask what are his morals? But if we hear at first that he has honest morals, and is a man of natural justice and good temper, we seldom think of the other question, whether he be religious and devout.
It is not wit merely, but temper, which must form the well-bred man. In the same manner it is not a head merely, but a heart and resolution, which must complete the real philosopher.
The passion of fear (as a modern philosopher informs me) determines the spirits of the muscles of the knees, which are instantly ready to perform their motion, by taking up the legs with incomparable celerity, in order to remove the body out of harm's way.
Never did any soul do good but it came readier to do the same again, with more enjoyment. Never was love or gratitude or bounty practiced but with increasing joy, which made the practicer still more in love with the fair act.
No one was ever the better for advice: in general, what we called giving advice was properly taking an occasion to show our own wisdom at another's expense; and to receive advice was little better than tamely to another the occasion of raising himself a character from our defects.