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other side； are poverty； ruin； social degradation； dependence；
bankruptcy and the alms…house。 In the presence of this alternative he
keeps close watch and becomes industrious； he thinks of his business
even when abed or at his meals； he studies it； not from a distance；
speculatively； in a general way； but on the spot； practically； in
detail； in all its bearings and relationships； constantly calculating
difficulties and resources； with such sharp insight and special
information that for any other person to try to solve the daily
problem which he solves； would be impossible； because nobody could
possess or estimate as he can the precise elements which constitute
it。 … Compare with this unique devotion and these peculiar
qualifications the ordinary capacity and listless regularity of a
senior public official； even when expert and honest。 He is sure of
his salary； provided he does his duty tolerably well； and this he does
when he is occupied during official hours。 Let his papers be correct；
in conformity with regulations and custom； and nothing more is asked
of him； he need not tax his brain beyond that。 If he conceives any
economical measure； or any improvement of his branch of the service；
not he； but the public； an anonymous and vague impersonality； reaps
all the benefit of it。 Moreover； why should he care about it； since
his project or reform might end up in the archives。 The machine is
too vast and complicated； too unwieldy； too clumsy； with its rusty
wheels； its 〃 old customs and acquired rights；〃 to be renewed and
rebuilt as one might a farm； a warehouse or a foundry。 Accordingly；
he has no idea of troubling himself further in the matter； on leaving
his office he dismisses it from his mind； he lets things go on
automatically； just as it happens； in a costly way and with
indifferent results。 Even in a country of as much probity as France；
it is calculated that every enterprise managed by the State costs one
quarter more； and brings in one quarter less； than when entrusted to
private hands。 Consequently if work were withheld from individuals in
order that the State might undertake it the community； when the
accounts came to be balanced； would suffer a loss of one…half。＇16＇
Now； this is true of all work； whether spiritual or material not only
of agricultural； industrial and commercial products； but； again； of
works of science and of art； of literature and philosophy； of charity；
of education and propaganda。 Not only when driven by egoism； such as
personal interest and vulgar vanity； but also when a disinterested
sentiment is involved； such the discovery of truth； the creation of
beauty； the propagation of a faith； the diffusion of convictions；
religious enthusiasm or natural generosity； love in a broad or a
narrow sense； spanning from one who embraces all humanity to one who
devotes himself wholly to his friends and kindred。 The effect is the
same in both cases； because the cause is the same。 Always； in the
shop directed by the free workman； the motivating force is enormous；
almost infinite； because it is a living spring which flows at all
hours and is inexhaustible。 The mother thinks constantly of her
child； the savant of his science； the artist of his art； the inventor
of his inventions； the philanthropist of his endowments； Faraday of
electricity； Stephenson of his locomotive； Pasteur of his microbes； De
Lesseps of his isthmus； sisters of charity of their poor。 Through
this peculiar concentration of thought； man derives every possible
advantage from human faculties and surroundings； he himself gets to be
a more and more perfect instrument； and； moreover； he fashions others：
with this he daily reduces the friction of the powerful machine which
he controls and of which he is the main wheel； he increases its yield
； he economizes； maintains； repairs and improves it with a capability
and success that nobody questions； in short； he fabricates in a
superior way。 … But this living source； to which the superiority of
the works is due； cannot be separated from the owner and chief； for it
issues from his own affections and deepest sentiments。 It is useless
without him； out of his hands； in the hands of strangers； the fountain
ceases to flow and production stops。 … If； consequently； a good and
large yield is required； he alone must have charge of the mill； he is
the resident owner of it； the one who sets it in motion； the born
engineer； installed and specially designed for that position。 In vain
may attempts be made to turn the stream elsewhere； there simply ensues
a stoppage of the natural issue； a dam barring useful canals； a
haphazard change of current not only without gain； but loss； the
stream subsiding in swamps or undermining the steep banks of a ravine。
At the utmost； the millions of buckets of water； forcibly taken from
private reservoirs； half fill with a good deal of trouble the great
central artificial basin in which the water； low and stagnant； is
never sufficient in quantity or force to move the huge public wheel
that replaces the small private wheels； doing the nation's work。
Thus； even when we only consider men as manufactures； even if we treat
them simply as producers of what is valuable and serviceable； with no
other object in view than to furnish society with supplies and to
benefit the consumers； even though the private domain includes all
enterprises undertaken by private individuals； either singly or
associated together； through personal interests or personal taste；
then this is enough to ensure that all is managed better than the
State could have done； it is by virtue of this that they have devolved
into their hands。 Consequently； in the vast field of labor； they
themselves decide on what they will undertake； they themselves； of
their own authority； set their own limits。 They may therefore enlarge
their own domain to any extent they please； and reduce indefinitely
the domain of the State。 On the contrary； the State cannot pretend to
more than what they leave； as they advance on their common territory
separated by vague frontiers； it is bound to recede and leave the
ground to them； whatever the task is； it should not perform it except
in case of their default； or their prolonged absence； or on proof of
their having abandoned it。
All the rest； therefore falls to the State； first； the offices which
they would never claim； and which they will deliberately leave in its
hands； because they do not have that indispensable instrument； called
armed force。 This force forces assures the protection of the
community against foreign communities； the protection of individuals
against one another； the levying of soldiers； the imposition of taxes；
the execution of the laws； the administration of justice and of the
police。 … Next to this； come matters of which the accomplishment
concerns everybody without directly interesting any one in particular
… the government of unoccupied territory； the administration of
rivers； coasts； forests and public highways； the task of governing
subject countries； the framing of laws； the coinage of money； the
conferring of a civil status； the negotiating in the name of the
community with local and special corporations； departments； communes；
banks； institutions； churches； and universities。 … Add to these；
according to circumstances； sundry optional co…operative services；＇17＇
such as subsidies granted to institutions of great public utility； for
which private contributions could not suffice； now in the shape of
concessions to corporations for which equivalent obligations are
exacted； and； again； in those hygienic precautions which individuals
fail to take through indifference； so occasionally； such provisional
aid as supports a man； or so stimulates him as to enable him some day
or other to support himself； and； in general； those discreet and
scarcely perceptible interpositions for the time being which prove so
advantageous in the future； like a far…reaching code and other
consistent regulations which； mindful of the liberty of the existing
individual； provide for the welfare of coming generations。 Nothing
beyond that。
Again； in this preparation for future welfare the same principle still
holds。
VII。
Fabrication of social instruments。 … Application of this principle。
… How all kinds of useful laborers are formed。 … Respect for
spontaneous sources； the essential and adequate condition。 …
Obligation of the State to respect these。 … They dry up when it
monopolizes them。 … The aim of patriotism。 … The aim of other
liberal dispositions。 … Impoverishment of all the productive
faculties。 … Destructive effect of the Jacobin system。
Among the precious products； the most precious and important are；
evidently； the animated instruments； namely the men； since they
produce the rest。 The object then； is to fashion men capable of
physical； mental or moral labor； the mos