"The mass man is one who has neither the force of intellect to apprehend the principles issuing in what we know as the humane life, nor the force of character to adhere to those principles steadily and strictly as laws of conduct; and because such people make up the great and overwhelming majority of mankind, they are called collectively the masses. The line of differentiation between the masses and the Remnant is set invariably by quality, not by circumstance. The Remnant are those who by force of intellect are able to apprehend these principles, and by force of character are able, at least measurably, to cleave to them. The masses are those who are unable to do either."
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The Atlantic Monthly, 1936
https://mises.org/mises-daily/isaiahs-job
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The masses? I'm not quite sure how to rate this. I don't completely agree with the premise SO? ? BUT, don't disagree to ardently. From a 30,000 ft. overview, the better the observation looks. Once the other people's money runs out, the masses take on a whole new intellect.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    I believe Nock refers to the 'masses' as the unthinking collective that is herded like cattle to the slaughterhouse.  The 'Remnant' are those that realized they could jump the fence and were in fact not just 'meat' but possessing of 'spirit' free and unbeholden to the designs of those that laid claim to them. 

    Freedom requires the desire to be free and the knowledge, courage and effort needed to live so.  The masses are doomed unless they wake up and turn off that road to perdition and follow the road less travelled.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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