Great statesmen and gentlemen, men of honor and rank, are phenomena of a bygone era. Contemporary liberal societies attempt, it seems, to get by on the credit of their merchants and tradesmen, or merely on the dignity of the common man. The aim of this volume is to explore the following question: Is there any place for aristocratic virtues in the modern democratic social and political order? A comparison of liberal and aristocratic societies suggests a catalog of contrasting virtues and priorities. Aristocracies, for example, emphasize rank, and value difference, quality, beauty, rootedness, continuity.