Those employments which are to be classed as exploit are worthy, honourable, noble; other employments, which do not contain this element of exploit, and especially those which imply subservience or submission, are unworthy, debasing, ignoble.

The concept of dignity, worth, or honour, as applied either to persons or conduct, is of first-rate consequence in the development of classes and of class distinctions, and it is therefore necessary to say something of its derivation and meaning.

Its psychological ground may be indicated in outline as follows.
As a matter of selective necessity, man is an agent.

He is, in his own apprehension, a centre of unfolding impulsive activity--"teleological" activity.

He is an agent seeking in every act the accomplishment of some concrete, objective, impersonal end.