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ture are repressed from infancy , and that the most unnatural means are used to bring out the most injurious propensities ' ; in short , that the utmost pains are taken to make that which by nature is the most delightful compound for producing excellence absurdimbecile and
and happ iness , , wretched . Such is the conduct now pursued by those who are called the best and wisest of the present generation although there is not one rational object to be ^ gained by it . From this principle of individual interest have arisen all the divisions of mankind , the endless errors and mischiefs of class , sect , party , and of national antipathies , creating the angry and malevolent passions , and all the crimes and misery with which the human race has been hitherto afflicted . In short ,
if there be one closet doctrine more contrary to the truth than another , it is the notion that individual interest , as that term is now understood , is a more advantageous principle on which to found the social system , for the benefit of all , or of any , than the
principle of union and mutual cooperation . The former acts like an immense weight to repress the most valuable faculties and dispositions , and to give a wrong direction to all the human powers . It is one of those magnificent errors , ( if the expression may be allowed , ) that when enforced
in practice , brings ten thousand evils in its train . The principle on which these economists proceed , instead of adding to the wealth of nations or of individuals , is it 3 elf the sole cause of poverty ; and but for its operation , wealth would long ago have ceased to
be a subject of contention in any part of the world . If , it may be asked , experience has proved , that union , combination , and extensive arrangement among mankind , are a thousand tunes more powerful to destroythan
, the efforts of an unconnected multitude where each acts individually for himself , would not a similar increased effect be produced by union , combination , and extensive arrangement , to create
and conserve ? Why should not the result be the same in the one case a « in the other ? But L is well known that a combination of men and of interests , can effect that which it would be futile to attempt and im-
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possible to accomplish by individual exertions and separate interests . " In another place , * Mr . Owen , with reference to this question , observes , " Wherever the experiment has been tried , the labour of each has been
exerted cheerfully . It is found that when men work together for a common interest , each performs his part more advantageously for himself and society , than when employed for others at daily wages , or than when working by the piece . When employed by the
day , they feel no interest in their occupation beyond the receipt of their wages ; when they work by the piece , they feel too much interest , and frequently overwork themselves , and occasion premature old age and death . When employed with others in a community of interests , both
these extremes are avoided , the labour becomes temperate but effective , and may be easily regulated and superintended . Besides , the principles and practices are now quite obvious by which any inclinations , from the most indolent to the most industrious , may be given to the rising generation . "
It cannot be denied that human nature requires a stimulus to excite its exertions ; but unless it be maintained that no stimulus short of wretched poverty will suffice to this purpose ,
and such a proposition stands opposed to the most notorious facts , then it becomes possible that men may be excited by the desire of advancing in the acquisition of those objects which conduce to the embellishment and
refinement of the human character , and we may set our minds quite at ease as to the danger of sinking into inactivity for want of suitable excitements , so long ad any single good , real or fancied , remains to be attained , that is to say , to all eternity . The habits of those who will
compose the first associations , will have been formed by the usual motives by which men are now actuated ; so long as the projected associations are surrounded by ordinary society , they will naturally be actuated by a desire to outstrip it in excellence ; and when , if ever , society at large shall come to be resolved into similar communities , * His Public Address , dated 25 th July , 1817 .
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Mr . Oiren ' s Plan . 455
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1823, page 455, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1787/page/23/
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