What human values did Alfred de Vigny defend in his later writings?

In his later writings, particularly in the collection Les Destinées, Alfred de Vigny emerged as a philosopher-poet who adopted a stance of skeptical humanism. Faced with what he perceived as the silence of Providence and the cold indifference of nature toward human suffering, he rejected reliance on divine intervention.1

Instead, Vigny advocated for the adoption of strictly human values to guide conduct, specifically emphasizing:

• Honour
• Pity
• The love of beauty1

These values were central to his effort to resolve his own internal conflicts and the broader agonies of humanity. His later work reflects a growing confidence in the imperishable nature of human spiritual powers, culminating in the celebration of a "pure spirit" that is essentially human and serves as a replacement for traditional divine authority.12