Nobility’s prestige depends on cohesive circle boundaries being recognized.

Evidence

Nobility is of real significance only so long as it defines a social circle that is highly cohesive and that hence sets itself off all the more energetically from the mass of all other circles; from those below and from those above. To deny the worth of the nobility signifies a breakdown of both these criteria: on the one hand it signifies a recognition of the value of the personality, whatever circle of birth it belongs to; on the other hand, it signifies a leveling with regard to those above whom one would otherwise raise oneself. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 662

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The middle class is open at both boundaries while nobility is closed at both — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 485; Nobility could arise from recurring expectations rather than prior distinction — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 508; A set of individuals can be society to varying degrees. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 51 (+1 more)

Related

• Nobility smelted individuals into the group while aiming at individual self-sufficiency (similarity 0.88)
• Nobility could arise from recurring expectations rather than prior distinction (similarity 0.87)
• Nobility uniquely synthesized collective standardization with individual freedom (similarity 0.85)
• Mystified power binds a people into a herd ruled by number and self-holiness (similarity 0.84)
• The middle class is open at both boundaries while nobility is closed at both (similarity 0.82)
• Knightly societies equated dignity with person-to-person service (similarity 0.80)
• Nobility remains endogamous to preserve unbroken transmitted substance (similarity 0.80)
• Nobility is self-sufficient like a framed work of art (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Nobility smelted individuals into the group while aiming at individual self-sufficiency #expands (0.55) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 522
• A set of individuals can be society to varying degrees. #expands (0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 51