From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordMagnanimous means great-souled, generous in disposition, and capable of noble purposes.
- In TraherneTraherne uses the adjective in the portrait of the rare friends who can help make earthly life heavenly.
- In this editionThe headword follows Traherne’s attested adjective; “magnanimity” is supplied only as a finding aid.
- A place to beginMagnanimity belongs to the chosen companions whose affection represents the New Jerusalem.
Meaning
Magnanimous means great-souled, generous in disposition, and capable of noble purposes. The modern emphasis on graciousness toward a defeated opponent represents only part of this wider moral sense.
Use in the book
Traherne uses the adjective in the portrait of the rare friends who can help make earthly life heavenly. Their greatness appears in liberality, cheerful holiness, fidelity, counsel, and the sharing of comforts and honours. They exchange souls rather than competing for exclusive possession. The surrounding list therefore supplies the word’s practical measure: the great soul has room for another person and freely communicates its goods. This is not mere social grandeur, nor an assertion that such friends must belong to a noble family.
Places to read
- I.83Magnanimity belongs to the chosen companions whose affection represents the New Jerusalem.
In this edition
The headword follows Traherne’s attested adjective; “magnanimity” is supplied only as a finding aid. Do not attach an unmentioned technical doctrine of great-souledness to this brief use.
Source note
Primary text: I.83.