The intelligent few will produce more novel ideas, combined or individually, than the masses.
Whom by definition produce nothing (at least nothing novel).
Did he mean valuable things like bread, or only extreme value like electrodynamics? Well he didn’t say “extreme value” and it’s easy to argue the character of productive members of society is above that of pickpockets so that fits.
So IMO a straightforward interpretation would be calling the great masses of humanity dumb rather than extolling the virtues of bakers.
There is really only one way to read his message. Which is a good thing, given that it is intended to be transmitted across 5000 years.
“everybody must live in fear of being eliminated from the economic cycle” not fear of failing to create the next wonder.
Thus emphasizing the critical nature of workers. It’s easy to read as pro social safety net or event collectivist terms. But stating a problem alone doesn’t suggest a solution.
This thread is a clear indicator that ther are multiple ways to read it. One may seem more valid than others but it's not at all unambiguous.
I'd love to know what the people in 5000 years, if there are any, project onto this. Maybe they'll refer back to this thread and fall into two major camps.