Date of Birth: December 16, 1863
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: September 26, 1952
Biography
George Santayana was a Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist. Born Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás, he is best known for his contributions to various fields of philosophy including aesthetics, ethics, and metaphysics. Santayana was born in Madrid, Spain, but moved to the United States at a young age. He was educated at Boston Latin School and later Harvard University, where he studied under William James and Josiah Royce. He eventually joined the faculty at Harvard, where he influenced many students, including T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein. His key works include “The Sense of Beauty,” “The Life of Reason,” and “Scepticism and Animal Faith.” Later in life, he moved back to Europe, spending his final years in Italy.
5 Interesting Facts about George Santayana
1. George Santayana coined the famous saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
2. He was both a naturalist and a materialist, believing that reality is fundamentally material.
3. Santayana was not only a philosopher but also an accomplished poet, with several collections of poems published during his lifetime.
4. He left his teaching position at Harvard to live in Europe, where he spent the rest of his life.
5. His novel “The Last Puritan” became a bestseller and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Santayana
1. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
2. “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
3. “There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.”
4. “Wisdom comes by disillusionment.”
5. “To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
George Santayana’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but he lived comfortably on his savings and book royalties.
Children
George Santayana never married and had no children.
Relevant Links
3. [Poetry Foundation – George Santayana](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/george-santayana
4. [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy – George Santayana](https://iep.utm.edu/santayan/
5. [George Santayana Society](http://georgesantayanasociety.org/
