I'm an elitist. Some folks--well-educated, well-tead, thoughtful--DO have the right to guide and direct. (Command may be too strong, but some temporary power is a good thing.

It sounds wise to me. If he means what I want it to mean, I give it 5. I would assume he was speaking of the end of the era of empires (British, French, Belgian) and, though he was a defender of the virtues of the British one, he probably foresaw its demise and hoped the future held something more intellectual.