Spiritual Aristocracy
By: Charz
Tags: democracy, Nunnally, Spiritual Aristocracy, Cooperation, Constitutional Government
Category: Codex, Code Geass
Democracy not only implies that the purpose of government is the welfare of the people but also demands that in the final determination of policies, the people’s opinions must be valued highly. This certainly does not mean that in each individual case the opinions of each individual person must be heard. It is an overall principle according to which nothing is done in opposition to the views of the people and no political action is undertaken without their general approval- expressed or tacit…
It may be mistakenly thought that majority government makes no use at all of the enlightened minority, but this is absolutely not so. … This minority can best fulfill their function as truly enlightened people when they modestly identify themselves with the majority, ostensibly following the majority will and yet, as the spiritual leaders of the majority, quietly working for the public good. … In all formal respects, the majority forms the basis for the exercise of governmental power, and they must be the political rulers, but within their ranks they in fact need spiritual leaders. …If the enlightened minority are truly to serve the national society, they must resolve to use their wisdom to guide the masses spiritually. At the same time they must resolve to enlist themselves in the service of the masses and, by making their own influence prevail, work for the public good. … Only when these two groups work together can a constitutional government develop perfectly. Seen politically, this cooperation means that the country is ruled by the will of the majority, but seen spiritually, it means that the country is guided by the enlightened minority. …It is government by the people, but in one sense it can also be called government by the best. Thus one can claim that constitutional government reaches its most splendid perfection when there is a harmonious reconciliation of political democracy with spiritual aristocracy…
Yoshino Sakuzō (1878-1933), professor of political history and theory, in Sources of Japanese Tradition
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