Our society distributes itself into Barbarians, Philistines and Populace; and America is just ourselves with the Barbarians quite left out, and the Populace nearly.

Summary

This quote by George Santayana reflects his view on the social classes within society, specifically in America. He categorizes society into three groups: Barbarians, Philistines, and Populace. Barbarians can be considered as those who are uncivilized or lack cultural refinement. Philistines represent individuals who have embraced materialism and prioritized superficial values. In contrast, the Populace refers to the majority of people who hold average or common characteristics. Santayana argues that America differs from other societies as it has managed to exclude the Barbarians, although the Populace remains strongly present.

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