A thread of elitism and class warfare that has run throughout history is the propensity of landed aristocracy to disparage the enterprising classes. In the cozy world in which aristocrats prefer to live, society is ossified: with the high-born owning the land, and the low-born working it. An entrepreneurial middle class doesn’t fit into that picture. “New money” strivers, with no family connections to speak of, unwelcomely intrude into their realm of material comfort, through (horrors!) hard work and clever ideas. This tendency can be found in the philosopher Plato. Born of the highest pedigree (he was ostensibly descended from the last king of Athens), he often betrays his aristocratic snobbery with his attitude toward any men of letters who work for money. For example, in Plato’s Ion, the eponymous character is a rhapsode: a professional traveling performer who acts out scenes from epic poetry. Plato (through the character of Socrates) mocks Ion for putting on airs, saying ironically how it is “right and proper for you to dress up and look as grand as you can.” Plato’s snobbery can also be detected in Socrates being surprised that rhapsodizing was considered enough of an “art” to be included in the festival of Asclepius.