User blog comment:Dragonfire8/Peasants being able to read/@comment-5674726-20131012005151/@comment-5674726-20131014000301

I don't know whether the nobles naturally thought they were superior because of their education or if they wanted to have the privilege of education in order to be superior.

I'd say that it was a bit of both. If they feel that they are intelligent and educated while the commoners are stupid and ignorant, they have a reason for why they deserve their position of power and privilege and can tell themselves that the commoners need the leadership of nobles.