106 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL 
of a large store may hold a commanding position within the 
organization; in his relations to the public, however, he 
will be a servant, not a superior. On the other hand, even 
the individuals holding the lowest positions will feel them- 
selves bearers of the objective principles and upholders of 
the dignity of the firm in their relations to the outside 
world. The members of the Catholic clergy are placed in 
a similar double relationship. The lowest order of priests 
is as far above the layman as the idea of eternity stands 
above all that is temporal. On the other hand, the highest 
church authority calls himself the servant of servants. The 
monk who may hold a position of authority in his order 
is devout and subservient in his relations to the outside 
world, but the lowest priest brings the authority of the 
church to his dealings with the secular orince.! 
Subordination to More than One Superior 
Complete subordination to different persons or groups 
may create a most unpleasant situation for the individual 
concerned. This will be the case, for instance, if the supe- 
riors are themselves In opposition or in actual conflict. 
Each superior will demand complete obedience and hold 
the individual responsible for what he does in obedience to 
the other, as if such acts were free and spontaneous. Such 
is the typical situation of the man who has to serve two 
masters. If this conflict between the two superiors is a con- 
fict between two social circles, it may become entirely sub- 
jectified, that is, transferred to the individual conscious- 
ness. In that case it will appear as a conflict between 
duties and loyalties and will bring most suffering to the 
strong individual. If the conflict remains an external con- 
flict, it will, on the other hand, bring most suffering to the 
weak individual. 
t Soz., pp. 197-212.