1. It is common judgment that social sensitivity is the most important merit of the social elite, the leading stratum. It is particularly heard in the form suggesting that the new generation, the future elite, the prospective leaders are to be educated to have more social sensitivity than the quantity the old leading stratum used to possess. In general what is meant is that it is the greater social sensitivity of the leading stratum that is the precondition of, as well as suitable instrument for the proper and successful solution of social problems and crises. The thesis sounds so simple and taken for granted that its truth can hardly be challenged at first sight. If those people are understood under the term ‘elite’ in whom the aims of the community are consciously shaped, and social sensitivity stands for the proper sense of the life and interests of the community, then it can hardly be doubted that social sensitivity is truly the most important merit of the elite. It is, however, not only the proper meaning of a common judgment that is of great significance, but its mistaken one as well. Therefore it is worth studying what society rightly or wrongly understands under the statement, when it is heard or voiced. When the public understanding of the elite’s social tasks is studied it should be noted at first sight that neither the elite, nor social sensitivity refers to the same notions called elite and social sensitivity in the above brief, but theoretically well-considered wording. Common understanding, when it refers to the social sensitivity of the elite, does not consider the elite as a collection of the most valuable members of the society, but simply those who obviously belong to the leading stratum of the society as a result of their social position in the given social order. The same common understanding does not mean a sensitivity towards the order, life and interests of the community, an ability to properly coordinate social action, to recognize phenomena violating social order, harmony and justice, an inclination towards setting an example for the community, making sacrifices and taking up roles, in brief and simply: not sociability, but a far narrower phenomenon. According to this common understanding social sensibility is not manifest in relation to the society as a whole, but towards individuals who have got into a disadvantageous position in the distribution of social opportunities, who have got to the bottom, or at least below us in the specific cases, who are ‘in poverty’, ‘in need’, who are ‘poor’, of ‘lowly position’ first and foremost.