Carlyle believed that man had come into existence. Brief biography of Thomas Carlyle

Thomas Carlyle (December 4, 1795 - February 5, 1881) - Scottish writer, publicist, historian and philosopher, popularizer and one of the founders of a special style of artistic and philosophical historical literature - the "Cult of Heroes". A very popular stylist. He had a great influence on legal thought.

A family

Born in the Calvinist family of James Carlyle and his second wife Janet Aitken, he was the eldest of nine children (pictured is Thomas's mother). His father was a bricklayer, later a small farmer. He was respected for his stamina and independence. Stern in appearance, he had a kind soul. Carlyle's family ties were unusually strong, and Thomas treated his father with great reverence, as reflected in his memoirs. He always had the most tender feelings for his mother and was a wonderful brother.

Studies

Parents did not have much money, so seven-year-old Carlyle was sent to study at a parochial school. When he was ten years old, he was transferred to Annan High School. His penchant for fighting led to problems with many of the students at the school, but he soon showed a strong interest in learning, prompting his father to teach him the worship. In 1809 he entered the University of Edinburgh. He had little interest in his studies, apart from Sir John Leslie's course in mathematics, who later became a good friend of his.

He also read a lot. However, literature, and the work of his contemporaries, had the greatest influence on him. Several guys in the same position as him saw him as an intellectual leader, and their correspondence reflects common literary tastes. In 1814, Carlyle, still preparing to become a priest, received a master's degree in mathematics from the Annan school, which enabled him to save some money. In 1816 he was appointed teacher at a school in Kirkland.

spiritual crisis

In 1818 Carlyle decided to give up his spiritual career. He did not explain to anyone the details of the transformations that had taken place in him, however, his desire to abandon the dogmatic views of spiritual mentors, who were always deeply respected by him, was obvious. For a while, atheism seemed the only way out, but he was deeply disgusted with it. All this led Carlyle to a spiritual crisis, which he managed to overcome only after writing Sartor Resartus. The life and thoughts of Mr. Teufelsdrock” in June 1821. He banished the spirit of denial, and since then the nature of his suffering has been changed forever. It was no longer "whining", but "indignation and grim defiance." In 1819, he began to study German, which led him to new interesting acquaintances. He was very interested in German literature. Most of all he liked the works of Goethe. In them, he saw an opportunity to discard obsolete dogmas without plunging into materialism. They met and corresponded for a long time. Goethe spoke positively of the translations of his books.

Personal life

After a long courtship, in 1826 Thomas Carlyle married Jane Bailey Welch. She was from a much more affluent family, and it took him several years to earn enough to get his marriage approved. They lived together for forty years, until Jane's death. The first years after their marriage they lived in the countryside, but in 1834 they moved to London. Lady Welch was childless, which later led to quarrels and jealousy. Evidence of this is their correspondence. Their life was also difficult because of Carlyle's psychological problems. With great emotionality and a fragile psyche, he often suffered from the pangs of depression, he was tormented by insomnia, and the loud singing of birds in his neighbor's garden drove him crazy. Bouts of rage abruptly gave way to outbursts of exaggerated humor. He was saved only by immersion headlong into work. For this, solitude and peace were necessary, and a special soundproof room was equipped in their house. As a result, his wife was often forced to do all household chores alone, often feeling abandoned.

Literary works

In the mid-1830s, Carlyle published Sartor Resartus. The Life and Thoughts of Herr Teufelsdrock" in Fraser's Journal. Despite the depth of philosophical thought, the impressive validity of his conclusions, this book did not have sufficient success. In 1837, his work "On the French Revolution" was published, which brought him real success. From 1837 to 1840 he gave several lectures, of which only one ("The Hero's Cult") was published. All of them brought him financial success, and at the age of forty-five he managed to become financially independent. He had many students and followers. From 1865 he became rector of the University of Edinburgh.

Views on the structure of society

Thomas Carlyle, whose biography is presented in the article, contrasted the gospel with the revolutionary and bitter moods of Byron's era. He spoke out for social reforms. In the struggle against a mechanical view of the world, respect for the majority and utilitarianism, he advocated a life filled with meaning, the development of the highest, supra-individual human values. Thomas Carlyle countered the leveled power of democratic tendencies with the cult of heroes. He believed that only those who have a victorious desire for power should rule in society and the state. The success of the will leading to power cited as an argument an idealism based on a constant striving for personal higher goals, and this is the weakness and danger of his science, which is a mixture of Scottish puritanism and German idealism.

In politics, he played a big role as a theoretician of imperialism, defending the idea of ​​the historical mission of the English people to embrace the whole world. From journalism, it should be noted, first of all, the philosophical and historical reflections “Heroes, the veneration of heroes and the heroic in history”, “On the French Revolution”, “SartorResartus. The Life and Thoughts of Mr. Teufelsdrock” and others.

Philosophical views on life

Fascinated by German romanticism, he left Calvinism. His passion for romantic philosophy was expressed in the translation of Goethe's book "The Years of Science by Wilhelm Meister" and the work "The Life of Schiller". From romanticism, he drew, first of all, a deeply developed individualism (Byronism).

In the center of Carlyle's works is a hero, an outstanding personality, overcoming himself with the power of vital activity, primarily moral. In emphasizing the superiority of the moral qualities of the hero over the intellectual, one can see the influence of puritanism. Despite this, Carlyle also blindly accepted Nietzsche's anthropology.

end of being

Thomas Carlyle, whose photo is presented in the article, died on February 5, 1881 in London. After the official farewell ceremony, his remains were transferred to Scotland, where he was buried in the same cemetery with his parents.

Thomas Carlyle: aphorisms and quotes

Among his most famous aphorisms are the following:

1. Every outstanding work at first glance seems impossible.
2. Love is not the same as insanity, but they have a lot in common.
3. Without pressure, there will be no diamonds.
4. A person who wants to work, but cannot find a job - this is perhaps the saddest situation presented to us by fate.
5. Isolation is the result of human misery.
6. My wealth is not what I have, but what I do.
7. In every phenomenon, the beginning is always the most memorable moment.
8. Selfishness is the source and result of all mistakes and suffering.
9. No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is only biographies of great people.
10. Endurance is concentrated patience.

Thomas Carlyle, whose quotes are full of wisdom and depth, left a bright mark on the history of philosophical thought.

Thomas Carlyle (also Carlyle; English Thomas Carlyle). Born December 4, 1795 in Ecclefechan, UK - died February 5, 1881 London. British writer, publicist, historian and philosopher of Scottish origin, author of the multi-volume essays The French Revolution (1837), Heroes, Heroic Worship and the Heroic in History (1841), Life History of Frederick II of Prussia (1858-65). He professed a romantic "cult of heroes" - exceptional personalities like Napoleon, who, with their deeds, fulfill the divine destiny and move humanity forward, towering over the crowd of limited inhabitants. Also known as one of the brilliant stylists of the Victorian era.

Born into a simple peasant family; destined by his parents - strict Calvinists for a spiritual career, at the age of 14 he entered the University of Edinburgh. Not wanting to be a priest, after completing his course at the university, he became a mathematics teacher in the provinces, but soon returned to Edinburgh. Here, living on casual literary earnings, for some time he was intensively engaged in law, preparing for the practice of law; but he quickly abandoned this, carried away by German literature.

The translation of Goethe's Wilhelm Meister in 1824 and the Life of Schiller in 1825 were Carlyle's first major works. These were followed by critical analyzes and translations from Jean-Paul.

"Prophetic grief, as deep as Dante's", disguised in "sunny and refined Goethe", Carlyle considered accessible only to a few mortals.

The same originality as these works is distinguished by the “History of the French Revolution” (“French Revolution, a history”, 1837), the caustic pamphlet “Chartism” (1839), lectures on heroes and the heroic in history (“On Hero Worship”, 1841) and historical and philosophical reflections "Past and present" (1843).

Not suited to any of the established political parties, Carlyle felt lonely and thought for some time about publishing his own magazine to preach his "believing radicalism". All these works of Carlyle are imbued with the desire to reduce the progress of mankind to the life of individual outstanding personalities-heroes (according to Carlyle, world history is a biography of great people, see The Theory of Great People), to put exclusively moral duty at the basis of civilization; his political program is limited to the preaching of labor, moral feeling and faith.

An exaggerated appreciation of the heroic in history and distrust of the power of institutions and knowledge led him to a formal cult of times past, more favorable to heroic people. His views are brighter than anywhere else, reflected in the twelve "Latter-day pamphlets" ("Latter-day pamphlets", 1858); here he laughs at the emancipation of the Negroes, at democracy, philanthropy, political and economic doctrines, etc. Not only did the former enemies resent Carlyle after these pamphlets, but many admirers ceased to understand him.

Throughout the 1840s, Carlyle's views shifted towards conservatism. Gradually, in the works of Carlyle, criticism of capitalism sounded more and more muffled, and his statements directed against the actions of the masses became more and more sharp. In the book Before and Now, he painted idyllic pictures of medieval society, where simple noble customs allegedly reigned, a good monarch ensured the well-being and freedom of his subjects, and the church baked about high moral values. It was a romantic utopia that brought Carlyle closer to the feudal socialists.

Of all Carlyle's writings, the Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell (1845-46), with commentaries, is of the greatest historical importance; the latter are far from impartial to the "hero" Cromwell. Carlyle showed in a new way the role of Cromwell in the history of the country, in particular, his merits in the rise of the sea power of England and in strengthening its international prestige. The work was innovative for its time. Until that time, English historians ignored this figure, seeing only a “regicide” and a “tyrant” in him. Carlyle made an attempt to reveal the true motives and significance of Cromwell's state activities. He also tried to understand the nature of the revolution itself, but proceeded from the fact that the English Revolution, unlike the French, was of a religious nature and had no "earthly goals."

Carlyle's most extensive work is "History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great II" (1858-65), which forced him to undertake a trip to Germany. With many brilliant qualities, it suffers from great prolongation. Carlyle sings of this "hero-king" and admires the order of feudal Prussia.

In 1841, being dissatisfied with the policy of the British Library, he initiated the creation of the London Library.

In 1847 his "Historical and Critical Essays" (a collection of journal articles) appeared, in 1851 a biography of his friend of his youth, the poet Sterling. From 1868 to 1870, Carlyle was busy publishing a complete collection of his works ("Library edition", in 34 volumes). This edition was followed the following year by a cheap "People's edition", which was repeated many times. He went on to publish a series of essays entitled The First Norwegian Kings (1875).

In 1866, Carlyle was offered the honorary position of rector of the University of Edinburgh. In addition to this position, he never held any position, remaining only a writer all his life. During the Franco-Prussian War, he took the side of Prussia and passionately and sincerely defended her cause in his letters to The Times, published separately (1871).

Thomas Carlyle died in 1881.

Thomas Carlyle and Nazism:

Thomas Carlyle was one of those who returned to the idea of ​​the prominent role of individuals, "heroes" in history. One of his most famous works, which had a very strong influence on contemporaries and descendants, was called “Heroes and the Heroic in History” (1840, Russian translation 1891; see also: Carlyle 1994). According to Carlyle, world history is the biography of great men. Carlyle concentrates in his works on certain personalities and their roles, preaches lofty goals and feelings, and writes a number of brilliant biographies. He says much less about the masses. In his opinion, the masses are often only tools in the hands of great personalities. According to Carlyle, there is a kind of historical circle or cycle. When the heroic principle in society weakens, then the hidden destructive forces of the masses can break out (in revolutions and uprisings), and they act until the society again finds in itself “true heroes”, leaders (such as Cromwell or). Such a heroic approach undoubtedly drew attention to the role of individuals, set (but did not solve) the problem of revealing the reasons for the fluctuations of this role in history. But it had too obvious flaws (besides unsystematic presentation): only “heroes” were considered, society was rigidly divided into leaders and the masses, the causes of revolutions were reduced to social feelings, etc.

The views of Carlyle in some way anticipated the views of his cult of the superman, and through him - of Hitler and other fascist ideologists. Yes, professor. Charles Sarolea in his 1938 article "Was Carlyle the first Nazi?", tries to answer this question in the affirmative in the Anglo-German Review:

"Nazism is not a German invention, it originally originated abroad and came to us from there ... The philosophy of Nazism, the theory of dictatorship were formulated a hundred years ago by the greatest Scot of his time - Carlyle, the most revered of political prophets. Subsequently, his ideas were developed by Houston Stewart Chamberlain "There is not a single basic doctrine... of Nazism on which the Nazi religion is based that would not be... in Carlyle, or in Chamberlain. Both Carlyle and Chamberlain... are truly the spiritual fathers of the Nazi religion... Like Hitler, Carlyle never changed his hatred, his contempt for the parliamentary system ... Like Hitler, Carlyle always believed in the saving virtue of dictatorship.

in his book A History of Western Philosophy (1946) stated: "The next step after Carlyle and Nietzsche is Hitler".

The well-known historian Manuel Sarkisyants devoted a separate chapter to the question of Carlyle's influence on the development of Nazi ideas in his book The English Roots of German Fascism.

Which by their deeds fulfill the divine destiny and move humanity forward, towering over the crowd of limited inhabitants. Also known as one of the brilliant stylists of the Victorian era.

Thomas Carlyle
English Thomas Carlyle
Date of Birth	December 4(1795-12-04 ) […]
Place of Birth	Ecclefechan[d], Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, Great Britain
Date of death	February 5th(1881-02-05 ) […] (85 years old)
A place of death
Citizenship	Scotland
Occupation	linguist, literary historian, historian, interpreter, mathematician, philosopher, essayist, writer, literary critic, novelist, teacher
Language of works	English
Awards
Files at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations on Wikiquote

Start of activity

Born into a simple peasant family; destined by his parents - strict Calvinists for a spiritual career, at the age of 14 he entered the University of Edinburgh. Not wanting to be a priest, after completing his course at the university, he became a mathematics teacher in the provinces, but soon returned to Edinburgh. Here, living on casual literary earnings, for some time he intensively studied law, preparing for the practice of law; but he quickly abandoned this too, becoming carried away by German literature.

Essays on German Literature

"Prophetic grief, as deep as Dante" disguised in "sunny and refined Goethe", Carlyle considered accessible only to a few mortals.

He gave a course of lectures on German literature, in 1838 - on European literature, in 1839 - on the topic "Revolution in modern Europe". The last time I read the course was in 1840. It was the only published and therefore extant course on the role of the hero in history. The list of heroes itself: Dante, Shakespeare, Luther, Rousseau, Napoleon, Cromwell, and others. These lectures brought some income to Carlyle, and after 1840 he no longer needed money and was rarely able to move him to speak.

A book about the French Revolution. Historical and philosophical views

The same originality as these works is distinguished by the “History of the French Revolution” (“French Revolution, a history”, ), the caustic pamphlet “Chartism” (), lectures on heroes and the heroic in history (“On Hero worship”, ) and historical and philosophical reflections "Past and present" ().

Not suited to any of the established political parties, Carlyle felt lonely and thought for some time about publishing his own magazine to preach his "believing radicalism". All these works of Carlyle are imbued with the desire to reduce the progress of mankind to the life of individual outstanding personalities-heroes (according to Carlyle, world history is a biography of great people, see The Theory of Great People), to put exclusively moral duty at the basis of civilization; his political program is limited to the preaching of labor, moral feeling and faith. An exaggerated appreciation of the heroic in history and distrust of the power of institutions and knowledge led him to a formal cult of times past, more favorable to heroic people. His views are brighter than anywhere else, reflected in the twelve "Latter-day pamphlets" ("Latter-day pamphlets",); here he laughs at the emancipation of the Negroes, at democracy, philanthropy, political and economic doctrines, etc. Not only did the former enemies resent Carlyle after these pamphlets, but many admirers ceased to understand him.

Other historical writings

Throughout the 1840s, Carlyle's views shifted towards conservatism. Gradually, in the works of Carlyle, criticism of capitalism sounded more and more muffled, and his statements directed against the actions of the masses became more and more sharp. In the book Before and Now, he painted idyllic pictures of medieval society, where simple noble customs allegedly reigned, a good monarch ensured the well-being and freedom of his subjects, and the church baked about high moral values. It was a romantic utopia that brought Carlyle closer to the feudal socialists.
Of all Carlyle's writings, the Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell (1845-46), with commentaries, is of the greatest historical importance; the latter are far from impartial towards the "hero" Cromwell. Carlyle showed in a new way the role of Cromwell in the history of the country, in particular, his merits in the rise of the sea power of England and in strengthening its international prestige. The work was innovative for its time. Until that time, English historians ignored this figure, seeing in him only a “regicide” and a “tyrant”. Carlyle made an attempt to reveal the true motives and significance of Cromwell's state activities. He also tried to understand the nature of the revolution itself, but proceeded from the fact that the English Revolution, unlike the French, was of a religious nature and had no "earthly goals."
Carlyle's most extensive work is "History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great II" (1858-65), which forced him to take a trip to Germany. With many brilliant qualities, it suffers from great prolongation. Carlyle sings of this "hero-king" and admires the order of feudal Prussia.

In 1841, being dissatisfied with the policy of the British Library, he initiated the creation of the London Library.

In 1866, Carlyle was offered the honorary position of rector of the University of Edinburgh. In addition to this position, he never held any position, remaining only a writer all his life. During the Franco-Prussian War, he took the side

CARLYLE

CARLYLE

Carlisle (Carlyle) Thomas (4.12.1795, Ecclefehan, Scotland - 5.2.1881, London), English, writer and historian. K.'s worldview was formed under the influence of Goethe, Fichte, Schelling and German romantics. Enemy French materialism and shotl utilitarianism.

AT philosophy novel "Sartor Resartus" (1833-34, Russian per. 1902) in the traditional mythological for romanticism. spirit created philosophy picture of the world, "dressed" in a kind of symbolic. veils-emblems that hide the transcendent nature and society. Following Fichte, he considered it as an illusion of the senses. which hides the deities from man. the structure of the universe. Philosophy, according to K., is called upon to “unravel” the presence of pantheistic in terms of emblem symbols. spirit in the visible forms of the perceived world. Romantic. K.'s naturalism is inherent in the desire to unite the microcosm of the "appearing" nature with the universal nature and eternity, identical to the spirit. Subjectivism K. sometimes led him to solipsism. Spiritualistic K. was used by representatives of theosophy.

After the publication of “Sartor Resartus”, Carlyle gradually loses to literature, which he had not previously considered as his own, seeing in it a way to comprehend the world and man. Carlyle's worldview is developing in the direction of the philosophy of history. In the works “Signs of the Times” (1829) and “Characteristics of Our Time”, he expressed his critical attitude towards public institutions, contemporary social philosophy; Carlyle considers modern society to be sick, claims that people are too preoccupied with their “I”, they are too busy with their problems; the most serious disease of society is the excessive wealth of some and the poverty of others. The current one is worse than the previous one due to the lack of faith and ideals. People do nothing intuitively, from the depths of their essence, everyone is guided by hardened recipes. They have lost faith in themselves, in the effectiveness of their own efforts, they care not about internal improvement, but about external adaptation, they are chasing external transformations. Meanwhile, reforms are premature without self-improvement, without achieving freedom, not only in the political sense. In the essay "Chartism", which had a huge public opinion, Carlyle does not speak from party positions, he considers Chartism as a social life, deeply rooted in the dissatisfaction of the workers with their position. Exploring the general causes of Chartism, Carlyle dwells in detail on various aspects of the social life of England at that time, argues with modern economists, does not accept the thesis about the temporary nature of the disasters of the working people, which supposedly will disappear by itself, does not agree with the principle of complete non-interference of the state in economic life. In 1843, in the book "Past and Present", starting from one medieval chronicle, Carlyle compares the current situation with the past; he argues that the former strong ties between people have been replaced by a connection in the form of a monetary contract, and the current formal people have only worsened the situation, since they completely removed them from the masters for their position. According to Carlyle, only a strong person can properly manage a society. In Pamphlets of the Last Day (1850), Carlyle criticizes modernity even more sharply, talking about slavery, government institutions, parliament, exemplary prisons (where the life of prisoners is better than the life of workers), double morality (the English profess two religions: on Sundays, on weekdays - political economy), etc. In his journalism, Carlyle speaks from the standpoint of morality, conscience and duty, pessimistically assessing the current state of society.

In 1837-40, Carlyle repeatedly spoke in London with public lectures. The last course was published under the title On Heroes, the Cult of Heroes, and the Heroic in History (1840). According to Carlyle, there is a history, a biography of great people: educators, patrons, creators. All things existing in the world are the embodiment of their thoughts and aspirations. Great people - prophets, poets, preachers, writers, rulers. Contrary to the then prevailing tendencies, Carlyle sees in great men, something supernatural, prophets through whom there is a continuous revelation of God. Their souls are open to the divine content of life, their qualities are sincerity, originality, a sense of reality. In 1845, Carlyle published Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, and in 1851, a biography of D. Sterling. Carlyle's last major work is The Life of Frederick the Great (vols. 1-5, 1858-65). During the work on the book, Carlyle visited Germany twice (1852,1858). During the Franco-Prussian War, Carlyle published in the Times on the side of Germany, for which Bismarck awarded him the Order of Merit. Carlyle had an enormous moral and literary (in particular, on Dickens, Yeskin, etc.) influence on his contemporaries, defending moral values ​​in the age of revolutions and changes.

Cit.: Woris, v. 1-30. L, 1899-1923; in Russian trans.: Novalis. M., 1901; Sartor Resartus. The Life and Thoughts of Herr Teufelsdrock, Vol. 1-3. M., 1902; Ethics of life. Work hard and don't give up! St. Petersburg, 1906; Now and before. M., 1906; Pamphlets of the last day. St. Petersburg, 1907; Heroes, hero-worship, and the heroic in history. St. Petersburg, 1908; Historical and critical experiences. M-, 1978; French revolution. Story. M., 1991.

Lit .: Yakovenko V. I. T. Carlyle, his life and literary activity. SPb., 1891; GenzelP. T. Carlyle. St. Petersburg, 1903; Kareev N. I. Thomas Carlyle. His life, his personality, his works, his ideas. Pg., 1923; SimonsD. Carlyle. M., 1981; Fraude J. A. Thomas Carlyle: A History of the First Forty Years of Life, 1795-1835. L., 1882; Idem. Thomas Carlyle: A History of His Life in London, 1834-81. L., 1884; Hood E. P. T. Carlyle. Philosophic Thinker, Theologian, Historian and Poet. N.Y., 1970; Campbell l. T. Carlyle. L., 1974.

I. V. Borisova

New Philosophical Encyclopedia: In 4 vols. M.: Thought. Edited by V. S. Stepin. 2001 .

See what "CARLYLE" is in other dictionaries:

Carlyle, Thomas Thomas Carlyle (eng. Thomas Carlyle, 1795 1881) British (Scottish) writer, historian and philosopher ... Wikipedia

Thomas (more correctly Carlyle) (Thomas Carlyle, 1795 1881) English critic, novelist, philosopher, historian and publicist. In the 20s. XIX century, when Carlyle entered the Literature, the industrial revolution was basically completed, the big bourgeoisie was pawning ... ... Literary Encyclopedia

CARLYLE, THOMAS(Carlyle, Thomas) (1795-1881), English writer, philosopher. Born December 4, 1795 in Ecklehen (Scotland). He was brought up in strict Puritan rules, taking from his father, an uneducated mason and farmer, an unshakable conviction in the power of true religiosity and the importance of work, admiration for the power of the mind, faith in legitimate authority and a view of poetry and artistic prose as idle fun.

He received his primary education in Ecklfehen and at a private school in the Scottish town of Ennan. In 1809 he entered the University of Edinburgh, where he prepared for a spiritual career, but instead received a degree in mathematics and from 1814 to 1818 taught at Ennan, then at Kirkcaldy. In 1818 he returned to Edinburgh to study law, but paid more attention to the German language, history and philosophy. In 1820, Carlyle finally abandoned his thoughts on the priesthood, jurisprudence, mathematics and teaching, abandoned his intention to emigrate and decided to earn a living by literary work.

In 1824 he published a biography of Schiller and translations geometries A.Legendre and the novel Student years Wilhelm Meister I.V. Goethe, who authorized his translation. In 1826 he married Jane Welch and settled in Edinburgh, earning his living by publishing in the Edinburgh Riviera and other magazines. In 1828, poor health and financial difficulties forced him to move to his wife's farm, where he lived until 1834, occasionally preparing magazine articles, but mainly working on a novel. Sartor Resartus. Life and Professor Teufelsdrock's opinions (Sartor Resartus. The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh). From 1834 Carlyle lived permanently in London, producing books, essays, conversations and letters. The work was interrupted only by trips to Scotland for the holidays, two trips to Germany (1852 and 1858), accession to the honorary rectorship of the University of Edinburgh (1865–1866; the position did not require a permanent presence) and the death of his wife in 1866.

The first work of Carlyle, which brought him wide fame, Sartor Resartus(lat. - reshaped tailor), in 1833-1834 it was published in Fraser's Magazine, a separate book was published in America (1836, foreword by R. W. Emerson) and London (1837). This philosophical and journalistic novel expressed the essence of Carlyle's philosophy: the modern world is “dislocated”, because to solve its problems it has chosen the methods of scientific rationalism, instead of reviving the truth of the spirit. Carlyle's best historical work appeared in 1837. History of the French revolution (The French Revolution. History), an epicly lengthy picture of the death of the decaying French aristocracy, which lost its leading position in society and failed to carry out the necessary reforms to save itself.

In his book Chartism (chartism, 1839) Carlyle urged the aristocracy to learn from the French Revolution, providing the masses with wise leadership, a guarantee of prosperity and tranquility. He covered this topic in more detail in his book. Heroes, the cult of heroes and heroic in history (On Heroes, Hero Worship, and the Heroic in History, 1841). His main idea boiled down to the fact that heroes should lead, who become leaders due to a special spiritual warehouse, and that the masses, if they are not tempted by false heroes, want one thing: to be guided by people of a higher order, the chosen ones. "Cult of Heroes" and Patriarchal Utopia (book Now and before – Past and Present, 1843) became an obsession for him. In later books he especially insisted on the feasibility of his concept of leaders. Thus, a vivid portrait of a strong leader is given in Letters and speeches Oliver Cromwell (Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, 1845–1846); a number of recommendations for the eradication of specific social evils presented Modern pamphlets (Latter Day Pamphlets) (1850); biography Life of John Sterling (The Life of John Sterling, 1851) glorified a man who personified impeccable truthfulness. Finally, in the book Story Frederick II of Prussia(History of Frederick II of Prussia, 1858–1865) presented an idealized image of the hero-king.

By the end of his life, having become famous, Carlyle refused honors, including the title of nobility and pension. In 1872 he received the Prussian Order of Merit, established by Frederick the Great, and in 1875 an honorary degree from Harvard University. Carlyle died in London on February 4, 1881. He was posthumously released Memoirs (Reminiscences).