“It is the tragic story of the cultural crusader in a mass society that he cannot win, but that we would be lost without him.”

Too true, but his arena is too limited. I have found the same to be true in other areas as well. Whenever you challenge the status quo you're labeled, at least benevolently, a crusader. And regardless of the arena, you seldom win. I would like to believe that the overall result is the better for such individuals, but I'm not sure I've seen such results. But we must still try!

Not quite sure how to rate this. dave above gives a good spin with a positive observation. When the mindset is set or focused on a multiple (collectivism, socialism, democracy, cultural crusader, mass society, etc.) the general rule tends to lend itself to destruction. When the mindset is set or focused on the natural law, liberty, and inalienable right of the sovereign individual, there is loss without the personal crusader. 

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, El Cid, Al Sayyid beat the overwhelming odds. It can be done.