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THE MAKROPOULOS SECRET

Pray tell, who would name the chosen ones? The governments? The Plebiscite? Swedish Academy?

No idiotic voting! The strongest would hand over life to the strongest. It would be—a dynasty of the strong.

Until the time when the rabble would claim its own right to life.

Time would kill them off. Progress in the world would replace the small and weak despot with the strong and big despot. Privileged long life—that’s the despotism of the select. That is the rule of reason. Superhuman authority in knowledge and executive ability. You have it in your hands, gentlemen. You can abuse it. I’ve told you all.

[He sits down]

Hm! Do I belong to this best dozen class, or does Gregor?

No.

But you do, of course.

Not any more—not now.