Question

Which two sentences in this excerpt from "Minorities Versus Majorities" by Emma Goldman best express the central idea?

If I were to give a summary of the tendency of our times, I would say, Quantity. The multitude, the mass spirit, dominates everywhere, destroying quality. Our entire life—production, politics, and education—rests on quantity, on numbers. The worker who once took pride in the thoroughness and quality of his work, has been replaced by brainless, incompetent automatons, who turn out enormous quantities of things, valueless to themselves, and generally injurious to the rest of mankind. Thus quantity, instead of adding to life's comforts and peace, has merely increased man's burden.


In politics, naught but quantity counts. In proportion to its increase, however, principles, ideals, justice, and uprightness are completely swamped by the array of numbers. In the struggle for supremacy the various political parties outdo each other in trickery, deceit, cunning, and shady machinations, confident that the one who succeeds is sure to be hailed by the majority as the victor. That is the only god,—Success. As to what expense, what terrible cost to character, is of no moment. We have not far to go in search of proof to verify this sad fact.


Publishers, theatrical managers, and critics ask not for the quality inherent in creative art, but will it meet with a good sale, will it suit the palate of the people? Alas, this palate is like a dumping ground; it relishes anything that needs no mental mastication. As a result, the mediocre, the ordinary, the commonplace represents the chief literary output.

Answer 1

Answer:

listen mate central idea depends on the thinking of the person who is reading .

the way one person thinks is different .

according to me ,,

as I consider success everything

here for me the central idea is

THAT IS THE ONLY GOD _ SUCCESS

# purejaatni

Answer 2

1. "The worker who once took pride in the thoroughness and quality of his work, has been replaced by brainless, incompetent automatons, who turn out enormous quantities of things, valueless to themselves, and generally injurious to the rest of mankind."

2. "Alas, this palate is like a dumping ground; it relishes anything that needs no mental mastication. As a result, the mediocre, the ordinary, the commonplace represents the chief literary output"

3. "In the struggle for supremacy the various political parties outdo each other in trickery, deceit, cunning, and shady machinations, confident that the one who succeeds is sure to be hailed by the majority as the victor."

Explanation:

• In this text, Emma Goldman appreciates "creative individualism" against the imperceptive (dull-witted) power of the mass. Her lack of faith in the majority she claims is influenced by her faith in the potentialities of an individual. Only when the latter becomes free to choose his/her associates for a shared objective, we can hope for harmony and order out of this world of inequality and chaos