THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF EDUCATION 
ity and that all classes were free to take advantage 
of them provided only they displayed the talent. 
This was true moreover not only for the men but 
also the women. Bridget had the full sympathy 
and aid of St. Patrick in her effort to create for the 
women of Ireland such an institution of learning as 
Patrick himself had created at Armagh for the men. 
The place of the women in the social life of the time 
was such that this extension of educational privileges 
for them is not surprising though it is extremely 
difficult for most people in the modern time to think 
it possible for a woman 1500 years ago to have 
organized education for women. 
What Patrick thus accomplished for education 
will always remain as one of the greatest demonstra- 
tions of his intelligence and of the breadth and 
sympathy of his character, and of his recognition 
of the real meaning of civilization. Civilization has 
been defined as “the process by which men come to 
think more of their minds and hearts and souls than 
they do of their bodies.” Whenever men think 
more of their bodies, they are barbarians no matter 
how much of information or even of refinement 
they may possess. Patrick had the true idea of cul- 
ture and he proceeded to diffuse it among the Irish 
just as far as he possessed the power to accomplish 
this great purpose. Seven centuries after his death 
his great foundation for education was still alive 
and still accomplishing wonderful results. 
The first great Irish university, that of Armagh, 
which probably must be counted as of university 
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