Forster’s Aristocracy

[cali]

I believe in aristocracy. . . — if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power, based upon rank and influence, but an aristocracy of the sensitive, the considerate and the plucky. Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the ages, and there is a secret understanding between them when they meet. They represent the true human tradition, the one permanent victory of our queer race over cruelty and chaos. Thousands of them perish in obscurity, a few are great names. They are sensitive for others as well as for themselves, they are considerate without being fussy, their pluck is not swankiness but the power to endure, and they can take a joke. I give no examples — it is risky to do that — but the reader may as well consider whether this is the type of person he would like to meet and to be....

<snip>

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002010

[Mist]

1. Paul Fussell refers to them as "class X" in his book "Class". Basically people

with talent, intelligence, an interest in never stopping learning, who are generally self-employed and don't give a damn what "general opinion" thinks of them.

[cali]

2. yes. much the same

though I think Forster put less emphasis on talent and intelligence and more on generosity of spirt. Thanks for the reply.

[Mist]

3. On looking over the chapter in Fussell's book that deals with "class X," I notice

he used the Forster quote.

[Taverner]

4. "Dictatorship of the Proletariat"

Let that sink in for a while