eighteenth century, n.Definitions

The Eighteenth century (n.) was ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠dominated by woman: full of esprit, shallow, humane, false before itself, much canaille at bottom.

The Eighteenth century (n.) believed, ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠in Tocqueville's phrase, in the variety of races but the unity of the human species.

The Eighteenth century (n.) bequeathed ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠us its moral poses but not its insouciance, cheerfulness, elegance, and brightness of spirit — it is the eighteenth century of Rousseau we inherited.