Observations by an Obscure Mediocrity, on a Recently Published Brochure Entitled "The Nemesis of Mediocrity."George Wahr, Publisher, 1918 - 53 pages |
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abolition of privilege autocracy Cardinal Cardinal Newman catalogue of 160 Cavour centripetal force cheer classes conspicuous counterfeits courage decade democracy of ideal died before 1905 ENTITLED THE NEMESIS Eternal Nemesis finest verbal pronouncements formless and amorphous France gather into potent grels honor human hundred immortal eighteen impudent element industrial intel intellectual nobility intellectual underworld irresponsible absolutism Italy Karl Marx lead leader that matches leader,—for leadership lecturer's Leo XIII little less eminence matches in power Molkte mongrel nation NEMESIS OF MEDIOCRITY OBSCURE MEDIOCRITY ocracy people,-in Perhaps potent units power the exigency protean forms proved PUBLISHED BROCHURE ENTITLED qualities RALPH ADAMS CRAM ray of hope RECENTLY PUBLISHED BROCHURE redemption through bitter regeneration religion ROOSEVELT society soul specious demagogue submerged masses sufficiently voluble tellectual thing tion Tourguenieff uncouth flotsam units the diffuse UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN unknown in 1880 unrestrained mating amongst William Morris women of alien
Popular passages
Page 51 - Nemesis. There is a serene Providence which rules the fate of nations, which makes little account of time, little of one generation or race, makes no account of disasters, conquers alike by what is called defeat or by what is called victory, thrusts aside enemy and obstruction, crushes everything immoral as inhuman, and obtains the ultimate triumph of the best race by the sacrifice of everything which resists the moral laws of the...
Page 33 - One science only will one genius fit ; So vast is art, so narrow human wit : Not only bounded to peculiar arts, But oft in those confin'd to single parts.
Page 12 - Now as always the great mass of men look for the master-man who can form in definite shape the aspirations and the instincts that in them are formless and amorphous; who can lead where they are more than willing to follow, but themselves cannot mark the way; who can act as a centripetal force and gather into potent units the diffuse atoms of like will but without co-ordinating ability.
Page 51 - ... families, and securing at last the firm prosperity of the favorites of heaven. It was too narrow a view of the eternal Nemesis. There is a serene providence which rules the fate of nations...
Page 52 - ... obstruction, crushes everything immoral as inhuman, and obtains the ultimate triumph of the best race by the sacrifice of everything which resists the moral laws of the world. It makes its own instruments, creates the man for the time, trains him in poverty, inspires his genius, and arms him for his task. It has given every race its own talent, and ordains that only that race which combines perfectly with the virtues of all shall endure.
Page 17 - A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Page 13 - ... them are formless and amorphous; who can lead where they are more than willing to follow, but themselves cannot mark the way; who can act as a centripetal force and gather into potent units the diffuse atoms of like will but without co-ordinating ability. So great is this central human instinct (which was not only the foundation of feudalism but harks back to the very beginnings of society) , that when the great leader is not revealed he is invented out of the more impudent element of any potential...
Page 51 - The ancients believed in a serene and beautiful Genius which ruled in the affairs of nations; which, with a slow but stern justice, carried forward the fortunes of certain chosen houses, weeding out single offenders or offending families, and securing at last the firm prosperity of the favorites of Heaven. It was too narrow a view of the Eternal Nemesis...
Page 10 - AtиI,hophilOl«pher, from which we take the following essayette.] For Heaven's sake, let us sit upon the ground, And tell sad stories about everything, And see which one amongst us shall weep first; And from the tangled skein of circumstance Let's weave a web of dreariest argument, And make us comfortably miserable.
Page 29 - It is Ralph Adams Cram who answers that, so far as the three main elements of true Democracy are concerned " the peoples are worse off than they were fifty years ago, while during the same period government and society have become progressively more venal, less competent and further separated from the ideals of honour, duty and righteousness.