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insanity； and all these have been of no more value than the tortures
undergone by the Indian mendicant who hangs himself up by a hook through his
back。 All these are pure folly。
Asceticism has not improved the form； or the physical well…being； or the
heart of any human being。 On the contrary； the hetaira is often the warmest
hearted and the most generous。 Casuistry and self…examination are perhaps
the most injurious of all the virtues； utterly destroying independence of
mind。 Self…denial has had no result； and all the self…torture of centuries
has been thrown away。 Lives spent in doing good have been lives nobly
wasted。 Everything is in vain。 The circle of ideas we possess is too
limited to aid us。 We need ideas as far outside our circle as ours are
outside those that were pondered over by Augustus Caesar。
The most extraordinary spectacle； as it seems to me； is the vast
expenditure of labour and time wasted in obtaining mere subsistence。 As a
man； in his lifetime； works hard and saves money； that his children may be
free from the cares of penury and may at least have sufficient to eat；
drink； clothe； and roof them； so the generations that preceded us might； had
they so chosen； have provided for our subsistence。 The labour and time of
ten generations； properly directed； would sustain a hundred generations
succeeding to them； and that； too； with so little self…denial on the part of
the providers as to be scarcely felt。 So men now； in this generation； ought
clearly to be laying up a store； or； what is still more powerful； arranging
and organising that the generations which follow may enjoy comparative
freedom from useless labour。 Instead of which； with transcendent
improvidence； the world works only for to…day； as the world worked twelve
thousand years ago； and our children's children will still have to toil and
slave for the bare necessities of life。 This is； indeed an extraordinary
spectacle。
That twelve thousand written years should have elapsed； and the
human raceable to reason and to think； and easily capable of
combination in immense armies for its own destructionshould still live
from hand to mouth； like cattle and sheep； like the animals of the field and
the birds of the woods； that there should not even be roofs to cover the
children born； unless those children labour and expend their time to pay for
them； that there should not be clothes； unless； again；time and labour are
expended to procure them； that there should not be even food for the
children of the human race； except they labour as their fathers did twelve
thousand years ago； that even water should scarce be accessible to them；
unless paid for by labour！ In twelve thousand written years the world has
not yet built itself a House； nor filled a Granary； nor organised itself for
its own
comfort。 It is so marvellous I cannot express the wonder with which it fills
me。 And more wonderful still； if that could be；
there are people so infatuated； or； rather； so limited of view；
that they glory in this state of things； declaring that work
is the main object of man's existencework for subsistence
and glorying in their wasted time。 To argue with such is impossible； to
leave them is the only resource。
This our earth this day produces sufficient for our existence。
This our earth produces not only a sufficiency； but a
superabundance； and pours a cornucopia of good things down upon
us。 Further； it produces sufficient for stores and granaries to
be filled to the rooftree for years ahead。 I verily believe
that the earth in one year produces enough food to last for
thirty。 Why； then； have we not enough？ Why do people die of
starvation； or lead a miserable existence on the verge of it？
Why have millions upon millions to toil from morning to evening
just to gain a mere crust of bread？ Because of the absolute
lack of Organisation by which such labour should produce its
effect； the absolute lack of distribution； the absolute lack even of the
very idea that such things are possible。
Nay； even to mention such things； to say that they are possible； is criminal
with many。 Madness could hardly go farther。
That selfishness has all to do with it I entirely deny。 The
human race for ages upon ages has been enslaved by ignorance and
by interested persons whose object it has been to confine the
minds of men； thereby doing more injury than if with infected
hands they purposely imposed disease on the heads of the people。 Almost
worse than these； and at the present day as injurious； are those persons
incessantly declaring； teaching； and
impressing upon all that to work is man's highest condition。
This falsehood is the interested superstition of an age
infatuated with money； which having accumulated it cannot even
expend it in pageantry。 It is a falsehood propagated for the
doubtful benefit of two or three out of ten thousand； It is the
lie of a morality founded on money only； and utterly outside and
having no association whatever with the human being in itself。
Many superstitions have been got rid of in these days； time it is that this；
the last and worst； were eradicated。
At this hour； out of thirty…four millions who inhabit this
country； two…thirdssay twenty…two millionslive within thirty
years of that abominable institution the poorhouse。 That any
human being should dare to apply to another the epithet 〃pauper〃 is； to me；
the greatest； the vilest； the most unpardonable crime that could be
committed。 Each human being； by mere birth； has a birthright in this earth
and all its productions； and if they do not receive it； then it is they who
are injured； and it is not the 〃pauper〃oh； inexpressibly wicked word！it
is the well…to…do； who are the criminal classes。
It matters not in the least if the poor be improvident； or drunken； or evil
in any way。 Food and drink； roof and clothes； are the inalienable right of
every child born into the light。 If the world does not provide it
freelynot as a grudging gift but as a right； as a son of the house sits
down to breakfastthen is the world mad。 But the world is not mad； only in
ignorancean interested ignorance； kept up by strenuous exertions； from
which infernal darkness it will； in course of time； emerge； marvelling at
the past as a man wonders at and glories in the light who has escaped from
blindness。
CHAPTER XI
This our earth produces not only a sufficiency a superabundance； but in one
year pours a cornucopia of good things forth； enough to fill us for many
years in succession。 The only reason we do not enjoy it is the want of
rational organisation。 I know； of course； and all who think know； that some
labour or supervision will always necessary； since the plough must travel
the furrow and the seed must must be sown； but I maintain that a tenth；
nay； a hundredth； part of the labour and slavery now gone through will be
sufficient； and that in the course of time； as organisation perfects itself
and discoveries advance； even that part will diminish。 For the rise and fall
of the tides alone furnish forth sufficient power to do automatically all
the labour that is done on the earth。 Is ideal man； then； to be idle？ I
answer that； if so； I see no wrong； but a great good。 I deny altogether that
idleness is an evil； or that it produces evil； and I am well aware why the
interested are so bitter against idlenessnamely； because it gives time for
thought； and if men had time to think their reign would come to an end。
Idlenessthat is； the absence of the necessity to work for subsistenceis
a great good。
I hope succeeding generations will be able to be ideal。 I hope that
nine…tenths of their time will be leisure time； that they may enjoy their
days； and the earth； and the beauty of this beautiful world； that they may
rest by the sea and dream； that they may dance and sing； and eat and drink。
I will work towards that end with all my heart。 If employment they must
haveand the restlessness of the mind will insure that some will be
followedthen they will find scope enough in the perfection of their
physical frames； in the expansion of the mind； and in the
enlargement of the soul。 They shall not work for bread； but for
their souls。 I am willing to divide and share all I shall ever have for this
purpose； though I think the end will rather be gained by organisation than
by sharing alone。
In these material things； too； I think that we require another circle of
ideas； and I believe that such ideas are possible； and； in a manner of
speaking； exist。 Let me exhort every one to do their utmost to think outside
and beyond our present circle of ideas。 For every idea gained is a hundred
years of slavery remitted。 Even with the idea of organisation which promises
most I am not satisfied； but endeavour to get beyond and outside it； so that
the time now necessary may be shortened。 Besides which； I see that many of
our difficulties arise from obscure and remote causesobscure like the
shape of bones； for whose strange curves there is no familiar term。 We must
endeavour to understand the crookedness and unfamiliar curves of the
conditions of life。 Beyond that still there are other ideas。 Never； never
rest contented with any circle of ideas； but a