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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
‘Well,’ I said, ‘about those “arrangements” which you spoke of as taking the place of government, could you give me any account of them?’
‘Neighbour,’ he said, ‘although we have simplified our lives a great deal from what they were, and have got rid of many conventionalities and many sham wants, which used to give our forefathers much trouble, yet our life is too complex for me to tell you in detail by means of words how it is arranged; you must find that out by living amongst us. It is true that I can better tell you what we don't do, than what we do do.’
‘Well?’ said I.
‘This is the way to put it,’ said he: ‘We have been living for a hundred and fifty years, at least, more or less in our present manner, and a tradition or habit of life has been growing on us; and that habit has become a habit of acting on the whole for the best. It is easy for us to live without robbing each other. It would be possible for us to contend with and rob each other, but it would be harder for us than refraining from strife and robbery. That is in short the foundation of our life and our happiness.’
‘Whereas in the old days,’ said I, ‘it was very hard to live without strife and robbery. That's what you mean, isn't it, by giving me the negative side of your good conditions?’
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