Sunday Philosophizing

Today's quote comes from Jose Ortega y Gasset's classic dissection of the dangers of conformity and group-think, especially in relation to false notion that the distribution of political power (through democracy, for instance) is itself sufficient to elevate the individual out of ignorance. This comes from his classic work, The Revolt of the Masses from 1929:

"The most radical division that it is possible to make of
humanity is that which splits it into two classes of
creatures: those who make great demands on themselves,
piling up difficulties and duties; and those who demand
nothing special of themselves, but for whom to live is to
be every moment what they already are, without
imposing on themselves any effort toward perfection;
mere buoys that float on waves"