Directive Apparatus, Part 11 to blupete's Essay
"An Essay On Government"
In dealing with the question as to what is the purpose of government, I am obliged to point out its loftiest duty: and that is to instill, primarily by example, the great personal virtues that need to be prevalent in the huge herd that is to be governed; necessary not only so we can all get along better with one another, but, primarily, -- and here I refer directly to the Confucian notion of good government21 -- so as to make the governed follow its legitimate directives, willingly and without the expense and destruction of compulsive government force. The muck and mire in which an over-extended government invariably finds itself is hardly conducive to the exercise of this lofty duty of setting a good example. An over-extended government is invariably obliged to resort to the use of force.
"... he who wields it [power] is often but the puppet of circumstances, like the fly on the wheel that said, "What a dust we raise!" It is easier to ruin a kingdom and aggrandize one's own pride and prejudices than to set up a greengrocer's stall. An idiot or a madman may do this at any time, whose word is law, and whose nod is fate. Nay, he whose look is obedience, and who understands the silent wishes of the great, nay easily trample on the necks and tread out the liberties of a mighty nation ..." (William Hazlitt.)22
Or, GO TO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
[Essays, First Series] [Essays, Second Series] [Essays, Third Series] [Essays, Fourth Series] [Subject Index] [Home]
|
| |