“The people he had glimpsed at the performance ‘seemed to have greatly deteriorated. Even the nicest of them have taken to intelligence and alas, with society people — I don’t know how they manage it– intelligence is simply a multiplier of stupidity, raising it to an unbelievable power and intensity. The only possible ones are those who have had the wit to remain stupid.'” William C. Carter’s life of Proust, quoting Proust in a letter.