The Man-Kzin Wars 01 by Larry Niven

"especially in the younger generation. ”
    “ I 've gathered you don't approve of postwar developments on your planet." Dorcas glanced at Tregennis .
    “ T hat's apropos the reason I hoped you would be here, Professor. I'm reading The House on Crowsnest — "
    “ W hat do you mean?" Markham interrupted. “ C rowsnest is an area on top of Mount Look a t that. “
    Dorcas curbed exasperation. Maybe he couldn't help being arrogant. I understand it's considered the greatest novel ever written on Plateau," she said .
    Tregennis nodded. “ M any think so. I confess the language in it gets too strong for my taste. ”
    “ Well, the author is a Colonist, telling how things were before and during the revolution," Dorcas said in Markham's direction. “ O ppression does not make people nice. The wonder is that Crew rule was overthrown almost bloodlessly. ”
    “ I f you please," Tregennis responded , we of the Crew families were not monsters. Many of us realized reform was overdue and worked for it. I sympathized myself, you know, although I did not take an active role. I do believe Nairn exaggerates the degree and extent of brutality under the old order. ”
    “ T hat's one thing I wanted to ask you about. His book's full of people, places, events, practices that must be familiar to you but that nobody on any other planet ever heard of, Laurinda herself couldn't tell me what some passages refer to. ”
    Tregennis smiled. “ S he has only been on Plateau as a student, and was born into a democracy. Why should she concern herself about old, unhappy, far off things? Not that she is narrow, she comes from a cultured home, but she is young and has a whole universe opening before her."
    Dorcas nodded. “ A lucky generation, hers. ”
    “ Y es, indeed. Landholder Markham, I must disagree with views you have expressed. Taken as a whole, on every world the young are rising marvelously well to their opportunities-better, I fear, than their elders would have done."
    “ I t makes a huge difference, being free," Dorcas said .
    Markham sat bolt upright. “ F ree to do what?" he snapped. “ T o be vulgar, slovenly, ignorant, self-centered , materialistic, conman ? I have seen the degradation go on, year by year. You have stayed safe in your ivory tower, Professor . You, Mme. Saxtorph, operate in situations where a measure of discipline., sometimes old-fashioned self-sacrifice, is a condition of survival. But I have gotten out into the muck and tried to stem the tide of it. ”
    I heard you'd run for your new parliament, and I know you don't care for the popular modern styles," Dorcas answered dryly. She shrugged. I often don't myself. But why should people not have what they want, if they can come by it honestly? Nobody forces you to join them. It seems you'd force them to do what pleases you. Well, that might not be what pleases me!" Markham swallowed. His ears lay back. I suspect our likes are not extremely dissimilar. You are a person of quality, a natural leader." Abruptly his voice quivered. He must be waging battle to keep his feelings under control. “ I n a healthy society, the superior person is recognized for what he or she is, and lesser ones are happy to be guided, because they realize that not only they but generations to come will benefit. The leader is not interested in power or glory for their own sake. At most, they are means to an end, the end to which he gives his life, the organic evolution of the society toward its destiny, the full flowering of its soul. But we are replacing living G emeinschaft with mechanical Gesellschaft. The cyborg civilization! It goes as crazy as a cyborg individual. The leading classes also lose their sense of responsibility. Those members who do not become openly corrupt turn into reckless megalomaniacs."
    Dorcas paled, which was her body's way of showing anger. “ I 've seen that kind of thinking described in history books," she said. “ I thought better of you, sir. For your