The British upper classes

As portrayed in literature, on TV and in movies, it always makes me wonder how England came to rule half the world. The English upper class is often portrayed as largely populated by lazy layabouts whose major preoccupation, for the men, is going to their clubs, content to live off the wealth and estates earned by their ancestors. And women whose only concern is marrying thier daughters to someone with a sufficinet allowance. Edward Langtry said it all when faced with near bankruptcy in episode 2 said, "Work??? I'm a gentleman, gentlemen don't work," or words to that effect. How did a society that did not value the talents of anybody not born to the proper class ever get to where they did. It beats me.