... half-conscious life of the race and become themselves individuals" and "firstborn amongst the sons of Europe" in virtue of their moral autonomy, cultivation of privacy and the individuality of culture. The Italians "first cast off the authority of a State which, as a fact, is in most cases tyrannical and illegitmate, and what he thinks and does is now, rightly or wrongly, called treason. The sight of victorious egotism in others drives him to defend his own rights by his own arm... In face of all objective facts, of laws and restraints of any kind, he retains the feeling of his own sovereignty, and in each case forms his decision independently, according as honour or interest, passion or calculation, revenge or renunciation, gain the upper hand in his mind." Burckhardt thought this massive change was the result of increased personal wealth for much of society, the development of culture, a ...

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