Flavio's notes & aphorisms
Natural Aristocracy
(this is an early draft)
When mediocrity sits at the helm of the ship of state, the natural aristocracy must hone its patience. For the ship is certain to flounder, its many captains lacking the expertise necessary to guide it to safe waters. This expertise is not acquired (as we moderns seem to think) by personal preference or popular opinion, but through deliberate study and careful observation of the human condition, and sufficient knowledge of its many arts and sciences.
What is a natural aristocracy, then? It is not the pageantry and frivolity of the artifical aristocracy, elevated to its perch through accident of birth and wealth. The natural aristocrat is a human type, the man or woman who conforms to an ideal set through countless generations and found to have stood the test of time and reason. He seeks to conform to this ideal, in spirit, soul, and body. He is not born worthy, but becomes worthy.
The spirit: the cultivation of virtue and temperance, of even-mindedness and equanimity. A mind that is alert and ready, that does not react easily and a stable mood of contentment with one’s work. The display of virtuous behavior is necessary, as well as earning the respect and the society of the respectable.
The mind and the intellect are trained through careful education in the classical tradition, which contains the lasting truths pertaining to the human condition. Lest he becomes immobile, he will seek not only to acquire, but to evaluate and apply the knowledge gained. He aims at understanding the transcendentals: that which is good, that which is true, and that which is beautiful. He becomes the superior man of Confucian philosophy, the man who is good at many things. He shall be well-versed in history and psychology, as well as science and engineering.
The body is trained rationally, not to atrophy or excess. The joy of movement is sought and understood as essential to the regulation of all other dimensions. Rational nutrition is a given, as well as the respect for our ancestral nature when it comes to rest.
Finally, the natural aristocrat places himself at the judgement of the ideal. He takes his tasks seriously, but he does not commit the mistake of taking himself too seriously. He will acquit himself well when commanding an army, and provide a worthy challenge during a philosophical discussion. But that would be nothing without mastering the fine arts of drinking, kissing, and making love.