The legendary English conservative philosopher, Roger Scruton, died yesterday and Theodore Dalrymple remembers this great and courageous man at City Journal. Requiescat in pace, Sir Roger.

In his last and moving article in The Spectator, indeed in the last paragraph he published in his lifetime, he stressed the importance of gratitude for what one has been fortunate enough to inherit. Take nothing for granted, preserve what is worth preserving, understand the fragility of things, remember debts to the past as well as to the future, take delight in the world. Such was the lasting message of this exceptionally gifted man.