The Art of Tetman Callis

“A right is a privilege.  The privilege of each is determined by the nature of his being.  Let us not underestimate the privileges of the mediocre.  Life becomes harder and harder as it approaches the heights—the coldness increases, the responsibility increases.  A high culture is a pyramid: it can stand only on a broad base, its very first prerequisite is a strongly and soundly consolidated mediocrity.  The crafts, trade, agriculture, science, the greater part of art, in a word the entire compass of professional activity, are in no way compatible with anything other than mediocrity in ability and desires; these things would be out of place among the élite, the instinct pertaining to them is as much opposed to aristocracy as it is to anarchy.  To be a public utility, a cog, a function, is a natural vocation, it is not society, it is a kind of happiness of which the great majority are alone capable, which makes intelligent machines of them.  For the mediocre it is happiness to be mediocre; mastery in one thing, specialization, is for them a natural instinct.  It would be quite unworthy of a more profound mind to see an objection in mediocrity as such.  It is even the prime requirement for the existence of exceptions; a high culture is conditional upon it.  When an exceptional human being handles the mediocre more gently than he does himself or his equals, this is not merely politeness of the heart—it is simply his duty.” — Friedrich Nietzsche, The Anti-Christ (trans. Hollingdale; emphases in original)