heart, they could do. I consider Hero-worship to be
the grand modifying element in that ancient system of thought. What I
called the perplexed jungle of Paganism sprang, we may say, out of
many roots: every admiration, adoration of a star or natural object,
was a root or fibre of a root; but Hero-worship is the deepest root of
all; the tap-root, from which in a great degree all the rest were
nourished and grown.

And now if worship even of a star had some meaning in it, how much
more might that of a Hero! Worship of a Hero is transcendent
admiration of a Great Man. I say great men are still admirable; I say
there is, at bottom, nothing else admirable! No nobler feeling than
this of admiration for one higher than himself dwells in the breast of
man. It is to this hour, and at all hours, the vivifying influence in
man's life. Religion I find stand upon it; not Paganism only, but far
higher and truer religions,--all religion hitherto known.
Hero-worship, heartfelt prostrate admiration, submission, burning,
boundless, for a noblest godlike Form of Man,--is not that the germ of
Christianity itself? The greatest of all Heroes is One--whom we do not
name here! Let sacred silence meditate that sacred matter; you will
find it the ultimate perfection of a principle extant throughout man's
whole history on earth.

Or coming into lower, less _un_speakable provinces, is not all Loyalty
akin to religious Faith also? Faith is loyalty to some inspired
Teacher, some spiritual Hero. And what therefore is loyalty proper,
the life-breath of all society, but an effluence of Hero-worship,
submissive admiration for the truly great? Society is founded on
Hero-worship. All dignities of rank, on which human association rests,
are what we may call a _Hero_archy (Government of Heroes),--or a
Hierarchy, for it is 'sacred' enough withal! The Duke means _Dux_,
Leader; King is _Koen-ning_, _Kan-ning_, Man that _knows_ or _cans_.
Society everywhere is some representation, not _in_supportably
inaccurate, of a graduated Worship of Heroes;--reverence and obedience
done to men really great and wise. Not _in_supportably inaccurate, I
say! They are all as bank-notes, these social dignitaries, all
representing gold;--and several of them, alas, always are _forged_
notes. We can do with some forged false notes; with a good many even;
but not with all, or the most of them forged! No: there have to come
revolutions then; cries of Democracy, Liberty, and Equali