324 CONCLUDING CHAPTER 
has demolished the hopes of the educationists as well 
as the terrors of the degeneracy-mongers, and we now 
know that there is no hereditary “‘ governing class ” any 
more than a hereditary hooliganism. We must either 
breed political capacity or be ruined by democracy, 
which was forced on us by the failure of the older 
alternatives. Yet if despotism failed only for want of 
a capable benevolent despot, what chance has demo- 
cracy, which requires a whole population of capable 
voters—that is, of political critics who, if they cannot 
govern in person for lack of spare energy or specific 
talent for administration, can at least recognise and 
appreciate capacity and benevolence in others, and 
so govern through capably benevolent representatives ? 
Where are such voters to be found to-day ? Nowhere. 
Promiscuous breeding has produced a weakness of 
character that is too timid to face the full stringency 
of a thoroughly competitive struggle for existence, and 
too lazy and petty to organize the commonwealth 
co-operatively. Being cowards, we defeat natural 
selection under cover of philanthropy ; being sluggards, 
we neglect artificial selection under cover of delicacy 
and morality.’* 
Mr. Shaw recognises, however, that our knowledge 
is at present insufficient to prescribe for the breeding 
of a ‘ Superman,’ even if we were able to come to any 
agreement as to what qualities are the most desirable. 
Nevertheless it is along the lines which we have en- 
deavoured to indicate that such knowledge must be 
sought in the future. 
* ‘Man and Superman,’ p. xxiii. 
