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noblesse oblige is, best I can tell, a cultural myth. There’s been quite a bit of writing on this subject[1]. I’m not convinced self-made wealth of today is any

noblesse oblige is, best I can tell, a cultural myth. There’s been quite a bit of writing on this subject[1]. I’m not convinced self-made wealth of today is any better or worse than the concentration of family money in the past - so I think your point is half correct. [1] https://www.worldcat.org/title/executive-imperialism-the-myth-of-noblesse-oblige/oclc/64067727 https://www.worldcat.org/title/executive-imperialism-the-myt... (And the paper) https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/28722/bk0003v1h0r/ https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/28722/bk0003v1h0r/ https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/04/the-ignoble-lie https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/04/the-ignoble-lie

joyeuse6701 6y ago
In the Gulag Archipelago, there's a story about Tsar Nicholas asking to be placed in solitary confinement so as to understand the conditions. The author notes that even this gesture was an indication of at least moral aspiration. Which I believe may fall under the umbrella of noblesse oblige This is in stark contrast to the Organs operating the prisons during the Soviet era who would never submit themselves to torture to understand the plight of the prisoners they sentenced. Anyway, just a fun anecdote, clearly noblesse oblige wasn't enough to stop the people from revolting in several cases.