第9章

Besides，manywhohavenoearforliteratureorformusicareaccessibletoarchitecture，topictures，tostatues，todresses，andtotheartsofthestage。Everydeviceofartshouldbebroughttobearontheyoung；sothattheymaydiscoversomeformofitthatdelightsthemnaturally；fortherewillcometoallofthemthatperiodbetweendawningadolescenceandfullmaturitywhenthepleasuresandemotionsofartwillhavetosatisfycravingswhich，ifstarvedorinsulted，maybecomemorbidandseekdisgracefulsatisfactions，and，ifprematurelygratifiedotherwisethanpoetically，maydestroythestaminaoftherace。Anditmustbeborneinmindthatthemostdangerousartforthisnecessarypurposeistheartthatpresentsitselfasreligiousecstasy。Youngpeopleareripeforlovelongbeforetheyareripeforreligion。OnlyaveryfoolishpersonwouldsubstitutetheImitationofChristforTreasureIslandasapresentforaboyorgirl，orforByron"sDonJuanasapresentforaswainorlass。Pickwickisthesafestsaintforusinournonage。

Flaubert"sTemptationofStAnthonyisanexcellentbookforamanoffifty，perhapsthebestwithinreachasahealthystudyofvisionaryecstasy；butforthepurposesofaboyoffifteenIvanhoeandtheTemplarmakeamuchbettersaintanddevil。Andtheboyoffifteenwillfindthisoutforhimselfifheisallowedtowanderinawell-stockedliterarygarden，andhearbandsandseepicturesandspendhispenniesoncinematographshows。Hischoicemayoftenberatherdisgustingtohiselderswhentheywanthimtochoosethebestbeforeheisreadyforit。ThegreatestProtestantManifestoeverwritten，asfarasIknow，isHoustonChamberlain"sFoundationsoftheNineteenthCentury:everybodycapableofitshouldreadit。ProbablytheHistoryofMariaMonkisattheoppositeextremeofmerit(thisisaguess:Ihaveneverreadit)；butitiscertainthataboyletlooseinalibrarywouldgoforMariaMonkandhavenousewhateverforMrChamberlain。IshouldprobablyhavereadMariaMonkmyselfifIhadnothadtheArabianNightsandtheirliketooccupymebetter。

Inart，children，likeadults，willfindtheirleveliftheyareleftfreetofindit，andnotrestrictedtowhatadultsthinkgoodforthem。Justatpresentouryoungpeoplearegoingmadoverragtimes，apparentlybecausesyncopatedrhythmsarenewtothem。IftheyhadlearntwhatcanbedonewithsyncopationfromBeethoven"sthirdLeonoraoverture，theywouldenjoytheragtimesallthemore；buttheywouldputthemintheirproperplaceasamusingvulgarities。

ArtistIdolatryButtherearemoredangerousinfluencesthanragtimeswaitingforpeoplebroughtupinignoranceoffineart。Nothingismorepitiablyridiculousthanthewildworshipofartistsbythosewhohaveneverbeenseasonedinyouthtotheenchantmentsofart。Tenorsandprimadonnas，pianistsandviolinists，actorsandactressesenjoypowersofseductionwhichinthemiddleageswouldhaveexposedthemtotheriskofbeingburntforsorcery。Butastheyexercisethispowerbysinging，playing，andacting，nogreatharmisdoneexceptperhapstothemselves。Fargraverarethepowersenjoyedbybrilliantpersonswhoarealsoconnoisseursinart。Theinfluencetheycanexerciseonyoungpeoplewhohavebeenbroughtupinthedarknessandwretchednessofahomewithoutart，andinwhomanaturalbenttowardsarthasalways

beenbaffledandsnubbed，isincredibletothosewhohavenotwitnessedandunderstoodit。He(orshe)whorevealstheworldofarttothemopensheaventothem。Theybecomesatellites，disciples，worshippersoftheapostle。Nowtheapostlemaybeavoluptuarywithoutmuchconscience。Naturemayhavegivenhimenoughvirtuetosufficeinareasonableenvironment。Butthisallowancemaynotbeenoughtodefendhimagainstthetemptationanddemoralizationoffindinghimselfalittlegodonthestrengthofwhatoughttobeaquiteordinaryculture。Hemayfindadorersinalldirectionsinouruncultivatedsocietyamongpeopleofstrongercharacterthanhimself，notoneofwhom，iftheyhadbeenartisticallyeducated，wouldhavehadanythingtolearnfromhimorregardedhimasinanywayextraordinaryapartfromhisactualachievementsasanartist。

Tartuffeisnotalwaysapriest。Indeedheisnotalwaysarascal:

heisoftenaweakmanabsurdlycreditedwithomniscienceandperfection，andtakingunfairadvantagesonlybecausetheyareofferedtohimandheistooweaktorefuse。Giveeveryonehisculture，andnoonewillofferhimmorethanhisdue。

Inthusdeliveringourchildrenfromtheidolatryoftheartist，weshallnotdestroyforthemtheenchantmentofart:onthecontrary，weshallteachthemtodemandarteverywhereasaconditionattainablebycultivatingthebody，mind，andheart。Art，saidMorris，istheexpressionofpleasureinwork。Andcertainly，whenworkismadedetestablebyslavery，thereisnoart。Itisonlywhenlearningismadeaslaverybytyrannicalteachersthatartbecomesloathsometothepupil。

"TheMachine"

WhenwesettoworkataConstitutiontosecurefreedomforchildren，wehadbetterbearinmindthatthechildrenmaynotbeatallobligedtousforourpains。Rousseausaidthatmenarebornfree；andthissaying，initsproperbearings，wasandisagreatandtruesaying；

yetletitnotleadusintotheerrorofsupposingthatallmenlongforfreedomandembraceitwhenitisofferedtothem。Onthecontrary，ithastobeforcedonthem；andeventhentheywillgiveittheslipifitisnotreligiouslyinculcatedandstronglysafeguarded。

Besides，menareborndocile，andmustinthenatureofthingsremainsowithregardtoeverythingtheydonotunderstand。Nowpoliticalscienceandtheartofgovemmentareamongthethingstheydonotunderstand，andindeedarenotatpresentallowedtounderstand。Theycanbeenslavedbyasystem，asweareatpresent，becauseithappenstobethere，andnobodyunderstandsit。AnintelligentlyworkedCapitalistsystem，asComtesaw，wouldgiveusallthatmostofusareintelligentenoughtowant。Whatmakesitproducesuchunspeakablyvileresultsisthatitisanautomaticsystemwhichisaslittleunderstoodbythosewhoprofitbyitinmoneyasbythosewhoarestarvedanddegradedbyit:ourmillionairesandstatesmenaremanifestlynomore"captainsofindustry"orscientificpoliticiansthanourbookmakersaremathematicians。ForsometimepastasignificantwordhasbeencomingintouseasasubstituteforDestiny，Fate，andProvidence。Itis"TheMachine":themachinethathasnogodinit。WhydogovernmentsdonothinginspiteofreportsofRoyalCommissionsthatestablishthemostfrightfulurgency?Whydoourphilanthropicmillionairesdonothing，thoughtheyarereadytothrowbucketfulsofgoldintothestreets?TheMachinewillnotletthem。

AlwaystheMachine。Inshort，theydontknowhow。

TheytrytoreformSocietyasanoldladymighttrytorestoreabrokendownlocomotivebyproddingitwithaknittingneedle。Andthisisnotatallbecausetheyarebornfools，butbecausetheyhavebeeneducated，notintomanhoodandfreedom，butintoblindnessandslaverybytheirparentsandschoolmasters，themselvesthevictimsofasimilarmisdirection，andconsequentlyofTheMachine。Theydonotwantliberty。Theyhavenotbeeneducatedtowantit。Theychooseslaveryandinequality；andalltheotherevilsareautomaticallyaddedtothem。

AndyetwemusthaveTheMachine。Itisonlyinunskilledhandsunderignorantdirectionthatmachineryisdangerous。Wecannomoregovernmoderncommunitieswithoutpoliticalmachinerythanwecanfeedandclothethemwithoutindustrialmachinery。ShatterTheMachine，andyougetAnarchy。AndyetTheMachineworkssodetestablyatpresentthatwehavepeoplewhoadvocateAnarchyandcallthemselvesAnarchists。

TheProvocationtoAnarchismWhatisvalidinAnarchismisthatallGovernmentstrytosimplifytheirtaskbydestroyinglibertyandglorifyingauthorityingeneralandtheirowndeedsinparticular。Butthedifficultyincombininglawandorderwithfreeinstitutionsisnotanaturalone。Itisamatterofinculcation。Ifpeoplearebroughtuptobeslaves，itisuselessanddangeroustoletthemlooseattheageoftwenty-oneandsay"Nowyouarefree。"Noonewiththetamedsoulandbrokenspiritofaslavecanbefree。Itislikesayingtoalaborerbroughtuponafamilyincomeofthirteenshillingsaweek，"Hereisonehundredthousandpounds:nowyouarewealthy。"Nothingcanmakesuchamanreallywealthy。Freedomandwealtharedifficultandresponsibleconditionstowhichmenmustbeaccustomedandsociallytrainedfrombirth。

Anationthatisfreeattwenty-oneisnotfreeatall；justasamanfirstenrichedatfiftyremainspoorallhislife，evenifhedoesnotcurtailitbydrinkinghimselftodeathinthefirstwildecstasyofbeingabletoswallowasmuchashelikesforthefirsttime。Youcannotgovernmenbroughtupasslavesotherwisethanasslavesaregoverned。YoumaypileBillsofRightandHabeasCorpusActsonGreatCharters；promulgateAmericanConstitutions；burnthechateauxandguillotinetheseigneurs；chopofftheheadsofkingsandqueensandsetupDemocracyontheruinsoffeudalism:theendofitallforusisthatalreadyinthetwentiethcenturytherehasbeenasmuchbrutecoercionandsavageintolerance，asmuchfloggingandhanging，asmuchimpudentinjusticeonthebenchandlustfulrancorinthepulpit，asmuchnaive

resorttotorture，persecution，andsuppressionoffreespeechandfreedomofthepress，asmuchwar，asmuchofthevilestexcessofmutilation，rapine，anddeliriousindiscriminateslaughterofhelplessnon-combatants，oldandyoung，asmuchprostitutionofprofessionaltalent，literaryandpolitical，indefenceofmanifestwrong，asmuchcowardlysycophancygivingfinenamestoallthisvillainyorpretendingthatitis"greatlyexaggerated，"aswecanfindanyrecordoffromthedayswhentheadvocacyoflibertywasacapitaloffenceandDemocracywashardlythinkable。DemocracyexhibitsthevanityofLouisXIV，thesavageryofPeterofRussia，thenepotismandprovincialityofNapoleon，theficklenessofCatherineII:inshort，allthechildishnessesofallthedespotswithoutanyofthequalitiesthatenabledthegreatestofthemtofascinateanddominatetheircontemporaries。

AndtheflatterersofDemocracyareasimpudentlyserviletothesuccessful，andinsolenttocommonhonestfolk，astheflatterersofthemonarchs。DemocracyinAmericahasledtothewithdrawalofordinaryrefinedpersonsfrompolitics；andthesameresultiscominginEnglandasfastaswemakeDemocracyasdemocraticasitisinAmerica。Thisistruealsoofpopularreligion:itissohorriblyirreligiousthatnobodywiththesmallestpretencetoculture，ortheleastinklingofwhatthegreatprophetsvainlytriedtomaketheworldunderstand，willhaveanythingtodowithitexceptforpurelysecularreasons。

ImaginationBeforewecanclearlyunderstandhowbalefulisthisconditionofintimidationinwhichwelive，itisnecessarytoclearuptheconfusionmadebyouruseofthewordimaginationtodenotetwoverydifferentpowersofmind。Oneisthepowertoimaginethingsastheyarenot:thisIcalltheromanticimagination。Theotheristhepowertoimaginethingsastheyarewithoutactuallysensingthem；andthisIwillcalltherealisticimagination。Takeforexamplemarriageandwar。Onemanhasavisionofperpetualblisswithadomesticangelathome，andofflashingsabres，thunderingguns，victoriouscavalrycharges，androutedenemiesinthefield。Thatisromanticimagination；andthemischiefitdoesisincalculable。Itbeginsinsillyandselfishexpectationsoftheimpossible，andendsinspitefuldisappointment，sourgrievance，cynicism，andmisanthropicresistancetoanyattempttobetterahopelessworld。Thewisemanknowsthatimaginationisnotonlyameansofpleasinghimselfandbeguilingtedioushourswithromancesandfairytalesandfools"paradises(aquitedefensibleanddelightfulamusementwhenyouknowexactlywhatyouaredoingandwherefancyendsandfactsbegin)，butalsoameansofforeseeingandbeingpreparedforrealitiesasyetunexperienced，andoftestingthepossibilityanddesirabilityofseriousUtopias。

Hedoesnotexpecthiswifetobeanangel；nordoesheoverlookthefactsthatwardependsontherousingofallthemurderousblackguardismstilllatentinmankind；thateveryvictorymeansadefeat；thatfatigue，hunger，terror，anddiseasearetherawmaterialwhichromancersworkupintomilitaryglory；andthatsoldiersforthemostpartgotowaraschildrengotoschool，becausetheyareafraidnotto。Theyareafraideventosaytheyareafraid，assuchcandorispunishablebydeathinthemilitarycode。

Averylittlerealisticimaginationgivesanambitiouspersonenormouspoweroverthemultitudinousvictimsoftheromanticimagination。Fortheromancernotonlypleaseshimselfwithfictitiousglories:healsoterrifieshimselfwithimaginarydangers。Hedoesnotevenpicturewhatthesedangersare:heconceivestheunknownasalwaysdangerous。Whenyousaytoarealist"Youmustdothis"or"Youmustnotdothat，"heinstantlyaskswhatwillhappentohimifhedoes(ordoesnot，asthecasemaybe)。Failinganunromanticconvincinganswer，hedoesjustashepleasesunlesshecanfindforhimselfarealreasonforrefraining。Inshort，thoughyoucanintimidatehim，youcannotbluffhim。Butyoucanalwaysblufftheromanticperson:

indeedhisgraspofrealconsiderationsissofeeblethatyoufinditnecessarytobluffhimevenwhenyouhavesolidconsiderationstoofferhiminstead。ThecampaignsofNapoleon，withtheiratmosphereofglory，illustratethis。IntheRussiancampaignNapoleon"smarshalsachievedmiraclesofbluff，especiallyNey，who，withahandfulofmen，monstrouslyoutnumbered，repeatedlykepttheRussiantroopsparalyzedwithterrorbypurebounce。Napoleonhimself，muchmorearealistthanNey(thatwaswhyhedominatedhim)，wouldprobablyhavesurrendered；forsometimesthebravestofthebravewillachievesuccessesneverattemptedbythecleverestoftheclever。

WellingtonwasacompleterrealistthanNapoleon。ItwasimpossibletopersuadeWellingtonthathewasbeatenuntilheactuallywasbeaten。Hewasunbluffable；andifNapoleonhadunderstoodthenatureofWellington"sstrengthinsteadofreturningWellington"ssnobbishcontemptforhimbyanacademiccontemptforWellington，hewouldnothavelefttheattackatWaterlootoNeyandD"Erlon，who，onthatfield，didnotknowwhentheywerebeaten，whereasWellingtonknewpreciselywhenhewasnotbeaten。Theunbluffablewouldhavetriumphedanyhow，probably，becauseNapoleonwasanacademicsoldier，doingtheacademicthing(theattackincolumnsandsoforth)withsuperlativeabilityandenergy；whilstWellingtonwasanoriginalsoldierwho，insteadofoutdoingtheterribleacademiccolumnswithstillmoreterribleandacademiccolumns，outwittedthemwiththethinredline，notofheroes，but，asthisuncompromisingrealistneverhesitatedtotestify，ofthescumoftheearth。

GovernmentbyBulliesThesepicturesquemartialincidentsarebeingreproducedeverydayinourordinarylife。WearebluffedbyhardysimpletonsandheadstrongboundersastheRussianswerebluffedbyNey；andourWellingtonsarethreadboundbyslave-democracyasGulliverwasthreadboundbytheLilliputians。Weareamassofpeoplelivinginasubmissiveroutinetowhichwehavebeendrilledfromourchildhood。Whenyouaskustotakethesimpleststepoutsidethatroutine，wesayshyly，"Oh，I

reallycouldnt，"or"Oh，Ishouldntliketo，"withoutbeingabletopointoutthesmallestharmthatcouldpossiblyensue:victims，notofarationalfearofrealdangers，butofpureabstractfear，thequintessenceofcowardice，theverynegationof"thefearofGod。"

Dottedaboutamongusareafewspiritsrelativelyfreefromthisinculcatedparalysis，sometimesbecausetheyarehalf-witted，sometimesbecausetheyareunscrupulouslyselfish，sometimesbecausetheyarerealistsastomoneyandunimaginativeastootherthings，sometimesevenbecausetheyareexceptionallyable，butalwaysbecausetheyarenotafraidofshadowsnoroppressedwithnightmares。Andweseethesefewrisingasifbymagicintopowerandaffluence，andforming，withthemillionaireswhohaveaccidentallygainedhugerichesby

theoccasionalwindfallsofourcommerce，thegoverningclass。Nownothingismoredisastrousthanagoverningclassthatdoesnotknowhowtogovern。Andhowcanthisrabbleofthecasualproductsofluck，cunning，andfolly，beexpectedtoknowhowtogovern?Themerelyluckyonesandthehereditaryonesdonotowetheirpositiontotheirqualificationsatall。Astotherest，therealismwhichseemstheiressentialqualificationoftenconsistsnotonlyinalackofromanticimagination，whichlackisamerit，butoftherealistic，constructive，Utopianimagination，whichlackisaghastlydefect。Freedomfromimaginativeillusionisthereforenoguaranteewhateverofnobilityofcharacter:thatiswhyinculcatedsubmissivenessmakesusslavestopeoplemuchworsethanourselves，andwhyitissoimportantthatsubmissivenessshouldnolongerbeinculcated。

Andyetaslongasyouhavethecompulsoryschoolasweknowit，weshallhavesubmissivenessinculcated。Whatismore，untiltheactivehoursofchildlifeareorganizedseparatelyfromtheactivehoursofadultlife，sothatadultscanenjoythesocietyofchildreninreasonwithoutbeingtormented，disturbed，harried，burdened，andhinderedintheirworkbythemastheywouldbenowiftherewerenocompulsoryschoolsandnochildrenhypnotizedintothebeliefthattheymusttamelygotothemandbeimprisonedandbeatenandover-taskedinthem，weshallhaveschoolsunderonepretextoranother；andweshallhavealltheevilconsequencesandallthesocialhopelessnessthatresultfromturninganationofpotentialfreemenandfreewomenintoanationoftwo-leggedspoiltspanielswitheverythingcrushedoutoftheirnatureexceptdreadofthewhip。Libertyisthebreathoflifetonations；andlibertyistheonethingthatparents，schoolmasters，andrulersspendtheirlivesinextirpatingforthesakeofanimmediatelyquietandfinallydisastrouslife。