--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A theory of the middle class: that it is…" description: "\"A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png" --- # A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be… ![“A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could shade down from an actual ruling or governing class to a class hopelessly out of relation to government, thinking of government as beyond its…” quote by Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png) > “A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could shade down from an actual ruling or governing class to a class hopelessly out of relation to government, thinking of government as beyond its control, of itself as wholly controlled by government. Somewhere in between and In gradations is the group that has the sense that gov't exists for it, and shapes its consciousness accordingly.” [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that class identity is defined more by one’s relationship to government than by wealth, placing people on a spectrum from ruling to powerless. **In simple terms:** Class is shaped by how people relate to government, not just money. Key Takeaway Recognize how political power influences class perception. Themes class politics identity power society Mood analytical critical Type theoretical philosophical When to use this quote - voting behavior - policy advocacy - civic education - community organizing - social research Key Concepts social contract class consciousness political theory Questions to Reflect On - How does your view of government affect your class identity? - Can class consciousness change without political reform? A Different Perspective The analysis may oversimplify complex economic factors influencing class. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Controlled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Financial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial/) [Governing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governing/) [Governing Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governing-class-3395386/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-control/) [Government Gradations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-gradations-5850072/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Ruling Governing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-governing-5850073/) [Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The weakling and the coward are out of place in a strong and free community. In a republic like ours the governing class is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-weakling-and-the-coward-are-out-of-place-in-a-strong-and-free/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In every age in which books have been produced, the governing class, the respectable, have been opposed to the works of real genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-every-age-in-which-books-have-been-produced-the-governing-class/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The information glut has become a ruling cliche. As all resources - from energy to information - become more abundant, the presure of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/the-information-glut-has-become-a-ruling-cliche-as-all-resources-from/) [George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/) > [The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-issue-today-is-the-same-as-it-has-been-throughout-all-history/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Govern wisely, and as little as possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/govern-wisely-and-as-little-as-possible/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-framing-a-government-which-is-to-be-administered-by-men-over-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What the Idaho Health Freedom Act says is that the citizens of our state won't be subject to another federal mandate or turn over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-otter/what-the-idaho-health-freedom-act-says-is-that-the-citizens-of-our/) [Butch Otter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-otter/) > [There isn't much in the way of pure communist spirit, because the whole nation seems to be engaged in capitalistic enterprises. Much of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/there-isn-t-much-in-the-way-of-pure-communist-spirit-because-the/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [I think President Obama is the most radical president this nation's ever seen. And in particular, I think he is a true believer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-president-obama-is-the-most-radical-president-this-nation-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [“The recession, which started in 2007, is ongoing. The underlying fundamental causes of the meltdown have not been addressed. Banks are still not lending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-recession-which-started-in-2007-is-ongoing-the-underlying/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Money, first and foremost, is a medium of communication, conveying the information we call 'price'. Government control of the money supply is censorship, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/money-first-and-foremost-is-a-medium-of-communication-conveying-the/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-a-reflection-on-human-nature-that-such-devices-should-be/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Lionel Trilling > [Our culture peculiarly honors the act of blaming, which it takes as the sign of virtue and intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/our-culture-peculiarly-honors-the-act-of-blaming-which-it-takes-as/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Literature is the human activity that make the fullest and most precise account of variousness, possibility, complexity, and difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/literature-is-the-human-activity-that-make-the-fullest-and-most/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [A primary function of art andthought is to liberate the individual from the tyranny of his culture in the environmental sense and to permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/a-primary-function-of-art-andthought-is-to-liberate-the-individual/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Being a Jew is like walking in the wind or swimming: you are touched at all points and conscious everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/being-a-jew-is-like-walking-in-the-wind-or-swimming-you-are-touched/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [It is possible that the contemplation of cruelty will not make us humane but cruel; that the reiteration of the badness of our spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/it-is-possible-that-the-contemplation-of-cruelty-will-not-make-us/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Every neurosis is a primitive form of legal proceeding in which the accused carries on the prosecution, imposes judgment and executes the sentence: all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/every-neurosis-is-a-primitive-form-of-legal-proceeding-in-which-the/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Some paradox of our natures leads us, when once we have made our fellow men the objects of our enlightened interest, to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/some-paradox-of-our-natures-leads-us-when-once-we-have-made-our/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [In the American Metaphysical, reality is always material reality, hard, resistant, unformed, impenetrable, and unpleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/in-the-american-metaphysical-reality-is-always-material-reality-hard/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [“...perhaps we have never been more than vocal and perhaps soon we can hope to be no more than thoughtful...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/perhaps-we-have-never-been-more-than-vocal-and-perhaps-soon-we-can/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/it-is-now-life-and-not-art-that-requires-the-willing-suspension-of/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Ideology is not the product of thought; it is the habit or the ritual of showing respect for certain formulas to which, for various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/ideology-is-not-the-product-of-thought-it-is-the-habit-or-the-ritual/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [There is no connection between the political ideas of our educated class and the deep places of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/there-is-no-connection-between-the-political-ideas-of-our-educated/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [The function of literature, through all its mutations, has been to make us aware of the particularity of selves, and the high authority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-function-of-literature-through-all-its-mutations-has-been-to-make/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [Unless we insist that politics is imagination and mind, we will learn that imagination and mind are politics, and of a kind we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/unless-we-insist-that-politics-is-imagination-and-mind-we-will-learn/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) [Explore all 56 Lionel Trilling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could shade down from an actual ruling or governing class to a class hopelessly out of relation to government, thinking of government as beyond its control, of itself as wholly controlled by government. Somewhere in between and In gradations is the group that has the sense that gov't exists for it, and shapes its consciousness accordingly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lionel Trilling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is-not-to-be-determined-by-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is-not-to-be-determined-by-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/lionel-trilling-12210_class_a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is_2372964.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its…” — Lionel Trilling", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lionel Trilling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A theory of the middle class:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is-not-to-be-determined-by-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/a-theory-of-the-middle-class-that-it-is-not-to-be-determined-by-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```