"As a rule, all heroism is due to a lack of reflection, and thus it is necessary to maintain a mass of imbeciles. If they once understand themselves the ruling men will be lost"

This quote by Ernest Renan suggests that heroism is often an outcome of a lack of self-reflection. He implies that it is necessary to preserve a population of individuals who are not self-aware in order to keep the gentility in power. This is since if the people were to become mindful of their own power and potential, the ruling class would be overthrown. Renan's quote implies that the gentility depends on the lack of knowledge of individuals in order to keep their power. He recommends that the gentility is aware of this and thus works to keep the people in a state of lack of knowledge. This quote highlights the power dynamics in between the ruling class and individuals, and how the ruling class utilizes individuals's absence of self-reflection to keep their power.