That one man should be rich and another poor is a necessity in the present imperfect state of civilisation;--but that one man should be born to be a legislator, born to have everything, born to be a tyrant,--and should think it all right, is to me miraculous.

But the greatest miracle of all is that they who are not so born,--who have been born to suffer the reverse side,--should also think it to be all right.
With us it is necessary that a man, to shine in society, should have done something, or should at any rate have the capacity of doing something.

But here the greatest fool that you meet will shine, and will be admitted to be brilliant, simply because he has possessions.

Such a one will take his part in conversation though he knows nothing, and, when inquired into, he will own that he knows nothing.

To know anything is not his line in life.
But he can move about, and chatter like a child of ten, and amuse himself from morning to night with various empty playthings,--and be absolutely proud of his life! I have lately become acquainted with a certain young lord here of this class who has treated me with great kindness, although I have taken it into my head to oppose him as to a matter in which he is much interested.