The bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeoisie have armed themselves against the rising proletariat with, among other things, culture. It's an old ploy of the bourgeoisie. They keep a standing art to defend their collapsing culture.

Summary

This quote suggests that the bourgeoisie (the middle class) and the petty bourgeoisie (lower-level business owners) protect themselves from the proletariat (working class) by using culture as a weapon. The bourgeoisie use art and cultural institutions to maintain their dominant position in society. By promoting and upholding their own cultural values, they try to preserve their influence and resist the changes that a rising proletariat could bring. In essence, the bourgeoisie employs culture as a tool to defend their own position and traditions in the face of potential societal upheaval.

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