The essence of modern capitalism is not slavery of the antique pattern but the possession of the expensive tools of production by a small plutocratic group which controls frequently also the tools of persuasion. (P.58)Europe’s rise is written in the terms of Christianity and Monarchy, Europe’s decay in the terms of Republicanism, Progressivism and Godlessness. (P.122)
The main emphasis was now shifted from "culture" to "civilization. This change was deplorable but almost necessary. Culture is personal and something rooted; civilization on the other hand is "international," interchangeable, and ambulant. There could be no melting pot, no Americanization on the basis of a new synthesis of Slovakian peasant dresses, Sicilian songs and Swedish folk dances. Only the jalopy, the overall, the ice-cream soda and the corner drugstore could serve as common denominators. In order to denationalize and to re-nationalize the "Bohunk." American society at large had to make its change from the emphasis on culture to the acclamation of depersonalized, collective, and common civilization. It was self-sacrifice for the native and often torture for the newcomer. It is difficult to see how this procedure could have been avoided. We still feel the effects of its aftermath. (P.231)
Even the great victories of the "democracies” over the semifeudal, semibureaucratic, seminarliamentarian monarchies were largely due to the fact that the "democracies" (still mitigated by their strange, liberal tradition) could rally a mass enthusiasm which could not possibly be "organized" by the states with a predominantly hierarchic tradition. Quantity defeated quality. (P.317)
