

xxiv ARISTO CRA C Y AND E VOL UTION 



PAGE 



government on life are less close and important than the effects 



of business management on business ; . . . 247 



and in any case the apparent power of the many is even here controlled 



by the few ....... 247 



The power of the many is a power to determine the quality of civilisa- 

 tion and progress, not to produce them .... 248 



CHAPTER III 



THE QUALITIES OF THE ORDINARY AS OPPOSED TO THE 

 GREAT MAN 



It will be objected that the conclusions reached in the last chapter 



derogate from the dignity of the average man . . . 250 



But they do not really do so ; . . . . .251 



for since the great man, as here technically defined, is the man who 



influences others so as to promote progress, . . ' . 251 



the ordinary man, as opposed to him, need not be stupid . . 252 



He is merely the man whose talents do not increase the efficiency of 



other men ........ 252 



Poets, in this technical sense, are ordinary men . . . . 252 



So are the most skilful manual workers, .... 253 



for very great manual skill does not promote progress or influence 



others, ........ 254 



unless it can be metamorphosed into the shape of orders given to 



others ........ 256 



Again, brilliance or charm in private life does not promote progress . 256 

 Therefore ordinary men, who do not promote progress, are not asserted 



to be lacking in high qualities ..... 257 

 Indeed, what is really interesting in human nature is the typical part 



of it, not the exceptional, ...... 258 



as we may see by referring to art and poetry .... 258 



Average opinion also on social matters is for each class the wise 



opinion ; . . . . . . . . 259 



and the average faculties shared by all are in one sense the test of 



truth ........ 259 



Therefore in denying to the average man the powers that promote 



progress ........ 260 



