Axiom: hatred of the bourgeois is the beginning of wisdom. But I include in the word bourgeois, the bourgeois in blouses as well the bourgeois in coats. It is we and we alone, that is to say the literary men, who are the people, or to say it better: the tradition of humanity.

Summary

This quote challenges the idea that wisdom comes from hating the bourgeois class, but emphasizes that intellectuals, namely literary men, are the true representatives of the people and the custodians of human tradition. By extending the definition of bourgeois to include both the bourgeoisie in blouses (the working class) and coats (the wealthy class), the quote suggests that wisdom lies in understanding and transcending societal divisions, with the literary intellectuals holding the key to preserving and passing on humanity's cultural heritage.

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