Literary notes about ESPRIT (AI summary)
In literature, "esprit" emerges as a versatile term that conveys everything from collective unity to the nimble play of one’s intellect. It is sometimes employed to denote a binding group spirit or camaraderie, as seen in military or social contexts where esprit de corps fosters group cohesion and honor ([1], [2], [3], [4]). At other times, the word highlights wit and intellectual sharpness, capturing the essence of those who are quick of mind or possess a certain cultivated humor ([5], [6], [7]). Beyond these facets, "esprit" also assumes a more philosophical dimension, referring to the mind’s capacity for critical thought and creative expression ([8], [9]). This broad usage underlines the term’s rich adaptability, bridging ideas of honor, collective identity, and intellectual acuity across literary works.
- This confirms the view I have taken, that a man's honor originates in esprit de corps .
— from The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer: the Wisdom of Life by Arthur Schopenhauer - 'Yes; but that was his trade; l'esprit du corps: he had been all his life among players and play-writers.
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson by James Boswell - There are two natural divisions of the subject—the honor of women and the honor of men, in either side issuing in a well-understood esprit de corps .
— from The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer: the Wisdom of Life by Arthur Schopenhauer - We need to build up a Pan-American esprit de corps , based on the instinct of self-defence.
— from The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. Blount - 'But I can give an entertaining narrative, with many incidents, anecdotes, jeux d'esprit, and remarks, so as to make very pleasant reading.'
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson by James Boswell - "Sir, she demeaned herself with distinction; and I heard the French gentlemen say she was 'pétrie d'esprit et de graces.'
— from Villette by Charlotte Brontë - Let us first make a distinction between the two meanings of the word wit ESPRIT, the broader one and the more restricted.
— from Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson - Les concepts de Cause, et l'activite intentionelle de l'Esprit.
— from Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James - The last sentence is the German of the il n'y a que l'esprit qui sente l'esprit , of Helvetius.
— from The World as Will and Idea (Vol. 1 of 3) by Arthur Schopenhauer
