“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” ~ Frederic Bastiat
“The chief difference between free capitalism and State socialism seems to be this: that under the former a man pursues his own advantage openly, frankly and honestly, whereas under the latter he does so hypocritically and under false pretenses.” ~ H.L. Mencken
As to the Bastiat quote -
the answer is “yes”, the elitists DO think they are morally and intellectually superior to those they are attempting to control.
It’s a natural conclusion to the assumptions of Humanism and evolution.