Great and the Good - Definition and Overview

The Great and the Good refers to a list of people within society who are generally regarded as beyond reproach and enjoy a universal degree of trust. They are often called upon to undertake public duties and many of them are to be found serving on more than one public body or quango. The membership criterion for this elite was described by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

There is no official list of the Great and the Good since that would defeat the concept of these individuals being reluctantly drawn to serve their fellow citizens. For this reason, politicians are rarely included in this category. Perhaps the best indicator of historical listing is to be found in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. For a contemporary listing it is customary to refer to Who's Who.

Membership may be ascribed posthumously to:

UK

• Stuart Hampshire

See also

• Establishment
• Movers and Shakers
• A list
• C list

Example Usage of Great