"It is because nations tend towards stupidity and baseness that mankind moves so slowly; it is because individuals have a capacity for better things that it moves at all"

George Gissing's quote speaks to the double nature of human development, reviewing the tension in between cumulative social tendencies and specific capacity. The declaration recommends that while societies, or countries, frequently show "stupidity and baseness"-- a tendency for recklessness and moral lowliness-- this collectively regressive behavior impedes the speed of human development. Gissing indicates that states, driven by groupthink, partisanship, or shortsighted policies, can mire themselves in actions and decisions that do not advance the common great or intellectual growth. This characterization paints an image of a social machine that frequently grinds gradually, weighed down by its own inadequacies and missteps.

On the flip side, Gissing counters this pessimism about the masses with an optimistic view of the individual's function. He mentions a rather redeeming quality in individuals, a "capacity for much better things", indicating that personal capacity and ethical character can drive development. It is through the creativity, innovation, and ethical clarity of individuals that societies can move forward at all. The quote celebrates human potential and suggests that even though the collective may frequently fail, private efforts can start modification and prompt improvement.

This duality presents a complex portrait of development, acknowledging the inertia present in large, governmental structures while at the same time affirming faith in the transformative power of individuals. It shows a belief in personal firm; that change, while slow and often restrained by the collective's drawbacks, is continually stimulated and sustained by those who see beyond immediate, narrow interests.

Overall, Gissing's words motivate a gratitude for specific contributions set against the larger background of social stumbling, highlighting how individual vision and courage can get rid of stagnancy and propel humanity forward in spite of more comprehensive systemic obstacles. In this expression, he captures both a critique and a celebration-- of what holds us back and what can move us forward-- nuanced and linked in the continuous journey of human civilization.