Down-and-Out-Land

[keannu]

Is this "Down-and-Out-Land" and"House of Greatness" a common expression or a made-up one here? If they are common, what do they mean?

ex)The masses of mankind from a vast pyramid. At the very tip-top peak are gathered the few who are famous. In the bottom layer are the many failures. Between the two extremes lie all the rest - from those who live near the ragged edge of Down-and-Out-Land to those who storm the doors of the House of Greatness.....

[SoothingDave]

"Down and out" is a common expression. As is the idea of "greatness." The writer is being poetic by considering that people live in a "land" that corresponds with their condition in life.

[keannu]

Does "down" mean "weary, tired" and "out" mean "homeless condition"? So tired people living outside without homes? I guess "House of Greatness" means supreme state of living like heaven, right?

[SoothingDave]

down-and-out - definition of down-and-out by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

I assume there is more text to read. I wouldn't assume that "House of Greatness" meant Heaven. Seems to me it is talking about people who achieve greatness in their lives. Successful people.