there is another and rarer bird, the careerist of talent, even the
careerist of genius, whom it is not so easy to see through. Clever and
brainy, he may be a good all around trifler, or his specific gift for
some line of achievement may make him more effective. There is nothing
he may not call himself: conservative, liberal, progressive, or
radical. Often he is an agnostic about social and political affairs
and problems, which passes for the indecision of the open mind, and is
quite handy to render him all things to all men. But perpetually, the
underlying careerist instinct drives him to use all men and women, all
ideas and movements and forces he comes in contact with for his own
personal advancement, just as the slave making instinct guides the red
ant in all its activities to procure its captives. Ideas do not make a
hero out of him, but he makes heroes of ideas, because they serve him
in his ascent.

Because he is the most subtle, the most complex and the most deceptive
type of careerist, he is the most dangerous to the adventure and
speculation in intellect which mankind is. To say that he is a wolf in
sheepskin is to be unjust to him, since he is most successful when he
is most unaware of his own charlatanry. He is most sincere when he
is most insincere, and most truthful when he lies best. A little
self-consciousness of hypocrisy is a corrupting thing, much of it
completely incompatible with the most successful careerism. Tartuffe
is always applauded by the world when he plays Hamlet, if he really
believes in himself as Hamlet. And, as all he has to do, if he is at
all talented, is to look into his glass and see himself in the part,
he carries it off very well.

WHY THE STATESMAN FAILS