Impulsive immature youth could not fail to see that farcical outworn ideas were still being imposed on the people. It was natural that in countries where the economic structure was quickly disintegrating and where emotions are always strong they should fall victim to the impassioned voice of iconoclastic demagogues like Hitler. He disregarded the old idols which had lost their charm and began to construct new but not better ones, for their hollowness was hidden behind cheap gaudy tinsel. He invested these materialistic and militaristic gods with the glamour of messianic religiosity and thus satisfied both the political and inner yearnings of the young at a single stroke. Today's call is for inspired leaders and inspired teachers; today's need is of institutions that will serve rather than exploit, and concepts that will ennoble rather than degrade. The new currents of life need new molds in which to flow, new institutions through which to reveal themselves. The task ahead of them is vitally important and extremely difficult but also tremendously inspiring.
-- Notebooks Category 11: The Negatives > Chapter 3 : Their Presence in The World > # 212
