[rdavis84]

"There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents... There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents; for with these it would belong to the first class... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and provision should be made to prevent its ascendency."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1813.

[steve50]

Excellent quote rd, thank you. I'll add that to my collection