"The old interests of aristocracy - the romance of action, the exalted passions of chivalry and war - faded into the background, and their place was taken by the refined and intimate pursuits of peace and civilization"

Lytton Strachey's quote shows a transformative duration in social history, particularly in the shift from the values and interests connected with aristocracy to those related to a more civilized, tranquil society. His words encapsulate the shift from a time when the ruling classes, frequently comprising royalty and nobility, were mostly participated in pursuits that stressed valor, chivalry, and martial undertakings. These "old interests of aristocracy" are rooted in a middle ages context where knighthood, feudal obligations, and the battlefield were central to a noble's identity and raison d'être. The "love of action" and "exalted enthusiasms of chivalry and war" speak to the daring and often violent exploits that were glamorized as noble pursuits and a method of sustaining power and eminence.

Strachey recommends that these interests "faded into the background", suggesting a significant cultural and social shift. The factors contributing to this modification were various, including the Enlightenment's emphasis on factor, the effects of the Industrial Revolution, and the growing motion towards democratic governance. As societies evolved, there was a marked departure from the feudal systems of the past, and with it, a decrease in the glorification of martial expertise and honorable family tree in favor of pursuits that were considered more refined and serene.

In place of a concentrate on warfare and chivalry, the brand-new age accepted "the refined and intimate pursuits of peace and civilization". This speaks with an increased gratitude for intellectual, creative, and cultural activities that promote human enlightenment and societal development. Education, art, literature, and science replaced martial valor as society's greatest ideals. The increase of the middle class and the spread of democratic perfects even more equalized access to these pursuits, breaking the exclusivity when held by the upper class.

In general, Strachey's observation underscores a critical change in human society, where the values of peace, refinement, and progress started to eclipse the old, martial methods, marking the dawn of a new era concentrated on civilization, innovation, and the cumulative betterment of humanity.