b. 1863d. 1952
George Santayana
George Santayana, whose full name was Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás, is a Spanish writer generally considered to be an American writer because of his influence when he taught at Harvard University. Known for his aphorisms, he is most famous for coining the phrase: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Santayana's poetry has been set to music by several American composers, including John Duke and Alva Henderson.
Image: George Santayana, public domain.
About
Born in Madrid, George Santayana grew up in Boston from the age of six. He was educated at Boston Latin School and Harvard University. At Harvard, he was a student of William James. Later, he taught at Harvard for 23 years and had many students who would have influential careers themselves in literature, philosophy, and the development of American culture, including Gertrude Stein, T. S. Eliot, and Robert Frost.
Santayana’s work has become important in the history of philosophy in America. To learn more about his philosophical ideas and publications, please visit the links listed to the right.
–Christie Finn
Related Information
Poetry Foundation
poetryfoundation.org/poets/george-santayanaStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
plato.stanford.edu/entries/santayana
Sheet Music
Songs By John Duke, Vol. 1
John Duke
1. When the Rose Is Brightest (Nathaniel Parker Willis)
2. Stopping by Woods on а Snowy Evening (Robert Frost)
3. The Puritan's Ballad (Elinor Wylie)
4. Midcentury Love Letter (Phyllis McGinley)
5. All Beauty Calls You to Me (Sara Teasdale)
6. Listen, I Love You (Sara Teasdale)
7. I am so weak а Thing (Sara Teasdale)
8. All Things in the World Can Rest, But I (Sara Teasdale)
9. Oh, My Love (Sara Teasdale)
10. Renouncement (Alice Meynell)
11. Noonday (Traditional Chinese)
12. Through Your Window (Traditional Chinese)
13. The Shoreless Sea (Traditional Chinese)
14. New Feet within My Garden Go (Emily Dickinson)
15. The Rose did Caper on Her Cheek (Emily Dickinson)
16. Have You Got а Brook in Your Little Heart? (Emily Dickinson)
17. I Taste а Liquor Never Brewed (Emily Dickinson)
18. The Better Part (George Santayana)
2. Stopping by Woods on а Snowy Evening (Robert Frost)
3. The Puritan's Ballad (Elinor Wylie)
4. Midcentury Love Letter (Phyllis McGinley)
5. All Beauty Calls You to Me (Sara Teasdale)
6. Listen, I Love You (Sara Teasdale)
7. I am so weak а Thing (Sara Teasdale)
8. All Things in the World Can Rest, But I (Sara Teasdale)
9. Oh, My Love (Sara Teasdale)
10. Renouncement (Alice Meynell)
11. Noonday (Traditional Chinese)
12. Through Your Window (Traditional Chinese)
13. The Shoreless Sea (Traditional Chinese)
14. New Feet within My Garden Go (Emily Dickinson)
15. The Rose did Caper on Her Cheek (Emily Dickinson)
16. Have You Got а Brook in Your Little Heart? (Emily Dickinson)
17. I Taste а Liquor Never Brewed (Emily Dickinson)
18. The Better Part (George Santayana)
High