The Essence of Fascism is Mediocrity

“Embittered mediocrities play a key role in promoting 'human' fascism. Civil rights are small comfort, after all, to a Canadian journalism professor who may never, in his entire harrumphing life, write a paragraph that compares with Mark Steyn's prose tossed off almost at random. It suits such a fellow's interests to silence Steyn. After all, it just isn't fair, is it?”

Denyse O’Leary


It seems to me Mrs. O'Leary has got it exactly right. Fascism is all about mediocrities forcing their way to the top, by taking out the best above them.

That was and is the problem with the Jews, wasn't it? They're too damned smart, and they just keep coming out ahead.

A fascist movement—I mean fascist in the broad sense--therefore commonly replaces merit with commitment to the cause, if not specific biological qualities—belonging to the right sex or race or social class. This gives mediocrities their chance; and they love it as a result.

What accomplishments did Hitler, for example, have, before he came to power? None. Granted, he won an Iron Cross—but no promotion above the rank of corporal. He was a failed artist, and mostly unemployed. The only top Nazi who could claim any genuine prominence outside the party was Goering.

Mussolini qualified as an elementary school teacher, but was chronically unemployed before he went into politics. He wrote bad short stories. Mao Zedong was also an elementary school teacher. He wrote bad poetry. Stalin's only job before he entered politics was as a local weatherman. He never finished university. He tried his hand at poetry for a few years, but gave it up.

Pol Pot never held a job before entering the party; he joined as a college student. He had the distinction of failing his final exams three years running. He killed everyone in Cambodia suspected of being an intellectual. Even wearing glasses meant a death sentence: you probably read too many books.

Beware the embittered mediocrity: the person whose actual talents are not up to their self-image.