按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ever。 Some； even； have a secular history； and their age predicts their
longevity。 In the countless fleet of boats which so constantly sink；
and which are so constantly replaced by others； they last like top
rated liners。 The men from the flotilla now and then sign on these
large vessels； and the result of their labor is not； as it is at home；
futile or short…lived； it will remain above the surface after he and
his boat have disappeared。 It has entered into the common mass of work
which owes its protection to its mass； undoubtedly the portion he
contributes may be worked over again later on； but its substance
remains； and often also its form：
* like a precept of Jesus；
* like Archimedes' theorem
which rests a definite acquisition； intact and permanently fixed for
two thousand years； immortal from the first day。 … Consequently； the
individual may take an interest； no longer merely in his own boat； but
again in some ship； in this or that particular one； in this or that
association or community； according to his preferences and his
aptitudes； according to attractiveness； proximity； and convenience of
access； all of which is a new motivation for his activities； opposing
his egoism； which； powerful as it may be； may still be overcome； since
a soul might be very generous or qualified by long and special
discipline。 Out of this issues every sacrifice； the surrender of
one's…self to one's work or to a cause；
* the devotion of the sister of charity or of the missionary；
* the abnegation of the scientist who buries himself for twenty years
in the minutia of a thankless task；
* the heroism of the explorer who risks himself on a desert or among
savages；
* the courage of the soldier who stakes his life in defense of his
flag。
But these cases are rare； with the mass of men； and in most of their
actions； personal interest prevails against common interest； while
against the egoistic instinct the social instinct is feeble。 Hence the
danger of weakening this。 The temptation of the individual to prefer
his own boat to the large ship is only too great； if it is desirable
for him to go aboard and work there； he must be provided with the
facilities and motives which prompt him to go aboard and do the work；
at the very least； he must not be deprived of them。 Now； that depends
on the State； a sort of central flag…ship； the only one that is armed；
and which has all subordinate vessels under its guns； for； whatever
the society may be； provincial or municipal； educational or
charitable； religious or laic； it is the State which sanctions or
adopts its statues； good or bad； and which； by its laws； tribunals；
and police； insures their execution； whether rigidly or carelessly。
Therefore； on this point； it is responsible； it must adopt or impose
the proper statute； the most suitable social form for strengthening
the social instinct； for maintaining disinterested zeal； for the
encouragement of voluntary and gratuitous labor。
This form； of course； differs according to different societies； the
same charter or constitution is not proper for a church system and a
commune； nor for a Protestant church and a Catholic church； nor for a
town of one hundred thousand inhabitants and a village of five
hundred。 Each association has its own peculiar and distinctive
features； which grade it according to its kind； according to its
spiritual or temporal aims； according to its liberal or authoritative
spirit； according to is small or large dimensions； according to the
simplicity or complexity of its affairs； according to the capacity or
incapacity of its members： features which within it are both efficient
and permanent； whatever the legislator may do； these will remain and
will regulate all activity。 Thus let him； in each case； keep this in
mind。 But in all cases his office is the same； always； on drawing up
and countersigning a statute； he intervenes in the coming conflict
between the social instinct and the egoistic instinct； every provision
which he enacts will contribute； nearby or at a distance； to the final
ascendancy of the former or of the latter。 Now； the legislator the
natural ally of the former； for the former is his indispensable
auxiliary。 In every work or enterprise of public utility； if the
legislator is the external promoter； social instinct is the internal
promoter； and on the inner spring becoming weak or breaking； the
impulsion from outside remains without effect。 Hence it is that； if
the legislator would accomplish anything； otherwise than on paper； he
must； before any object or interest； concern himself with the social
instinct＇1＇； thus preserving and humoring it； find room for it and its
usefulness； let it have full play； getting all the service it is
capable of rendering； and especially not twist or release it。 … In
this respect； any blunder might prove disastrous； and in every statute
for each society； for each of the human vessels which gather together
and serve as a retinue of individual vessels； there are two capital
errors。 On the one hand； if the statute； in fact and practically； is
or becomes too grossly unjust； if the rights and benefits which it
confers are not compensated by the duties and obligations it imposes；
if it multiplies excessive burdens for some and sinecures for others；
if； at last； the exploited individual discovers that he is overcharged
beyond his due； … thereafter he refuses on his own to add voluntarily
to his load。 Let others； let the favored and the privileged bear the
gratuitous； extra weight。 Far from stepping forward and offering his
shoulders； he gets out of the way； hides himself； and lightens his
load as much as he can； he even rebels when he has a chance； and
violently casts off every legal burden； be it tax or due of any kind。
Thus did the ancient régime perish。 … On the other hand； if the
statute withdraws the management of the ship from those who are
concerned； if； on this vessel； which belongs to them； it permanently
installs a foreign crew； which assumes and exercises all command； then
the owner of the vessel； reduced to the humble condition of a mere
subject and quiescent taxpayer； will no longer feel concerned。 Since
the intruders exercise all authority； let them have all the trouble；
the working of the ship concerns them and not him； he looks on as a
spectator； without any idea of lending a hand； he folds his arms；
remains idle； and becomes critical。 … Against the first defect； the
new régime is on its guard： there must be neither the preferred nor
the disgraced； neither favors nor exemptions； neither exclusions nor
releases； no more misappropriation； embezzlement； or robbery； not
alone in the State； but elsewhere in any direction； … in the
department； in the commune； in the Church； or in educational and
benevolent institutions。 It excels in practicing distributive justice。
The second defect is its hidden flaw： the legislator having introduced
this into all local and special statutes； its effects differ according
to different societies； but all these effects converge； paralyzing in
the nation the best half of the soul； and； worse still； to leading the
will astray and perverting the public mind； transforming generous
impulses into evil outbursts； and organizing lasting inertia； ennui；
discontent； discord； feebleness； and sterility。＇2＇
II。 Local Community。
Local societies。 … Their principal and distinctive character。 … Their
type on a small scale。 … A dwelling…house in Annecy or Grenoble。 …
Compulsory association of its inmates。 … Its object and limits。 …
Private in character。
Let us first consider local society whether a province； a department；
or a county。 For the past ten years （1789…99）； the legislator has
unceasingly deformed and assaulted。 On his side； he refuses to open
his eyes； preoccupied with theories； he will not recognize it for what
it is in reality； a society of a distinct species； different from the
State； with its own peculiar aims； its limits marked out； its members
prescribed； its statutes drawn up； everything formed and defined
beforehand。 As it is local； it is founded on the greater or less
proximity of its habitations。 Thus； to comprehend it； we must take a
case in which this proximity is greatest that of certain houses in
some of our southeastern towns； as； for example； Grenoble and Annecy。
Here； a house often belongs to several distinct owners； each
possessing his story； or apartment on a story； one owning the cellar
and another the attic； each enjoying all the rights of property over
his portion； the right of renting it； selling it； bequeathing it； and
mortgaging it； but all holding it in common for the maintenance of the
roof and the main walls。 … Evidently； their association is not a free
one； willingly or not； each forms a member of it； for； willingly or
not； each benefits or suffers through the good or bad state of the
roof and the principal walls： therefore； a