Discussion on "The cult of the self-made man"

I said earlier that the ideal self-made man is necessary to our industrial future. By this one means that no matter how complex our educational system, our industrial organisation and our social direction, we need people who will be non-conformist at certain times; they will be unpopular, their ideas may well be inchoate over long years; but out of their loneliness in the envy and isolation of their fellows, they will produce something to add to our national character and the everchanging tempo and gregarious temper of our day. Such men (and women) need not achieve greatness (though some will) but in the corners of our offices, factories, shops and in fact wherever people work, these few will be the custodians of our national progress and well-being. For they will continue the historical human tradition that Britain adds much to the conduct of society everywhere.