The British philosopher Bertrand Russell noted that one of the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture is that scholars are chosen to run the country by means of an examination system, and not by a system of inherited nobility.
英國哲學家羅素（Bertrand Russell）曾表示，中國傳統文化特徵之一，即為治國者均是經由考試而起之士人，而非世襲之貴族。