328 ARISTOCRACY AND EVOLUTION 



Book iv point, and asking what truth is contained in it. We 

 may at once admit, then, that if it is taken in an 

 abstract sense, it sums up a truth which is, beyond 

 doubt, indisputable ; for if each individual having 

 exceptional potentialities as a wealth - producer, 

 which require nothing but the favour of circum- 

 stances to ensure their being turned into actualities, 

 could be provided with circumstances so nicely 

 adapted to his idiosyncrasies that these potentialities 

 might be developed to the utmost extent possible, 

 the productive powers of the community, it is almost 

 needless to observe, would be raised in that case 

 to their utmost possible efficiency. Such an ideal 

 itisimpos- condition of things as this, however, is impossible 

 t b m'ake * e "**' f r tne following, if for no other, reason. Successful 

 parents as a rule will employ part of their wealth 

 at all events they will employ the positions which 

 they have won by their own ability to provide 

 opportunities of a special kind for their sons ; there- 

 fore, whatever the State might do for its youths and 

 young men in general, exceptional parents for 

 their sons would be able to do something more. 

 Equality of opportunity, therefore, represents an 

 ideal condition which we never can reach, but to 

 The question is which we can only approximate ; and the only 

 ca^a^proadi practical questions for us are accordingly these : 

 to equality. h ow f a r towards this ideal can political action carry 

 us, and what results are to be anticipated from our 

 nearest possible approach to it ? 



Now the answer to both these questions will very 

 largely depend on the existing conditions of the 



