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Literary
June 14, 1929
The Midland Journal
Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland
What is this article about?
An article explores why individuals seek authority, citing Aldous Huxley's Vanity Fair piece on the dual requirements of talent and prestige, with publicity as a key enhancer in the modern newspaper era.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Need Two Qualities to Be Authority
Throughout the ages man has striven vainly with his fellow compatriot to attain that pinnacle of absolution, authority over his fellows, but it has been left to Aldous Huxley, writing in Vanity Fair, to tell why a man wishes to be an authority.
"What are a man's motives for wishing to be an Authority? The necessary attributes of an Authority are in the first place talent and in the second a prestige which is a product partly of that talent and partly of causes external to the talented individual. Nobody without some sort of outstanding talent can hope to become an Authority for the world at large. At the same time, talent without prestige is unavailing. Many men of talent have lacked authority during their lifetime; authority has only come to them posthumously with a posthumous accession of prestige. In this age of newspapers the greatest source of prestige is publicity, the mere fact of being somebody who figures in the news. It is possible for any public person, whatever the nature of his success-bringing specialty, to become an Authority."
Throughout the ages man has striven vainly with his fellow compatriot to attain that pinnacle of absolution, authority over his fellows, but it has been left to Aldous Huxley, writing in Vanity Fair, to tell why a man wishes to be an authority.
"What are a man's motives for wishing to be an Authority? The necessary attributes of an Authority are in the first place talent and in the second a prestige which is a product partly of that talent and partly of causes external to the talented individual. Nobody without some sort of outstanding talent can hope to become an Authority for the world at large. At the same time, talent without prestige is unavailing. Many men of talent have lacked authority during their lifetime; authority has only come to them posthumously with a posthumous accession of prestige. In this age of newspapers the greatest source of prestige is publicity, the mere fact of being somebody who figures in the news. It is possible for any public person, whatever the nature of his success-bringing specialty, to become an Authority."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Political
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Authority
Talent
Prestige
Publicity
Huxley
Literary Details
Title
Need Two Qualities To Be Authority
Subject
On The Motives For Wishing To Be An Authority
Key Lines
"What Are A Man's Motives For Wishing To Be An Authority? The Necessary Attributes Of An Authority Are In The First Place Talent And In The Second A Prestige Which Is A Product Partly Of That Talent And Partly Of Causes External To The Talented Individual."
"In This Age Of Newspapers The Greatest Source Of Prestige Is Publicity, The Mere Fact Of Being Somebody Who Figures In The News."