Something that cannot be bought or soldSomething that cannot be inherited or given, only earnedNot related to titles, but to abilitiesDetermined by how much someone gives, not ownsInvolves merit, talent, honor, duty, and honestyThe real aristocrat is: “a complete human being, a synthetic man, an accomplished person. He combines a healthy body with a brilliant mind and a noble soul, a radiant spirit and beauty within and without. But the soul is primary, and a pure soul is more beautiful than the most perfect body” (p. 216)“All greatness is humble and magnanimous, all baseness is wicked and conceited” (p. 229).
"Why so hard?" the kitchen coal once said to the diamond. "After all, are we not close kin?"Why so soft? O my brothers, thus I ask you: are you not after all my brothers?Why so soft, so pliant and yielding? Why is there so much denial, self-denial, in your hearts?So little destiny in your eyes?And if you do not want to be destinies and inexorable ones, how can you one day triumph with me?And if your hardness does not wish to flash and cut through, how can you one day create with me?For all creators are hard.Only the noblest is altogether hard. And it must seem blessedness to you to impress your hand on millennia as on wax.Blessedness to write on the wall of millennia as on bronze -harder than bronze, nobler than bronze.This new tablet, O my brothers, I place over you: become hard!