The Revolt of the Masses

by José Ortega y Gasset

All the increased material possibilities which life has experienced run the risk of being nullified when they are faced with the shocking problem that has come upon the destiny of Europe, and which I once again formulate: the direction of society has been taken over by a type of man who is not interested in the principles of civilization. Not of this or that civilization but —from what we can judge today— of any civilization. Of course, he is interested in anesthetics, automobiles, and a few other things. But this fact merely confirms his fundamental lack of interest in civilization. For those things are merely its products, and the fervor with which he greets them only brings into stronger relief his indifference to the principles from which they spring.