There can be no progress (real, that is, moral) except in the individual and by the individual himself.

The remark draws a sharp line between material or collective “progress” and what Baudelaire treats as the only progress that truly matters: moral transformation within a single person. It implies skepticism toward grand narratives of historical improvement—political reforms, technological advances, or social movements—when they are not matched by inner ethical change. The parenthetical “real, that is, moral” suggests that outward advancement can even mask stagnation or decay in character. The second clause (“except in the individual and by the individual himself”) stresses personal responsibility: moral betterment cannot be delegated to institutions or crowds; it must be chosen and enacted inwardly, one conscience at a time.