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has usurped。 By these two methods； the intensity of the interference with
liberty involved in government can be gradually diminished。 Some
interference； and even some danger of unwarranted and despotic
interference； is of the essence of government； and must remain so long as
government remains。 But until men are less prone to violence than they
are now； a certain degree of governmental force seems the lesser of two
evils。 We may hope； however； that if once the danger of war is at an end；
men's violent impulses will gradually grow less； the more so as； in that
case； it will be possible to diminish enormously the individual power
which now makes rulers autocratic and ready for almost any act of tyranny
in order to crush opposition。 The development of a world where even
governmental force has become unnecessary （except against lunatics）
must be gradual。 But as a gradual process it is perfectly possible； and
when it has been completed we may hope to see the principles of
Anarchism embodied in the management of communal affairs。
How will the economic and political system that we have outlined bear
on the evils of character？ I believe the effect will be quite extraordinarily
beneficent。
The process of leading men's thought and imagination away from the
use of force will be greatly accelerated by the abolition of the capitalist
system； provided it is not succeeded by a form of State Socialism in which
officials have enormous power。 At present； the capitalist has more control
over the lives of others than any man ought to have； his friends have
authority in the State； his economic power is the pattern for political
power。 In a world where all men and women enjoy economic freedom；
there will not be the same habit of command； nor； consequently； the same
love of despotism； a gentler type of character than that now prevalent will
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gradually grow up。 Men are formed by their circumstances； not born
ready… made。 The bad effect of the present economic system on character；
and the immensely better effect to be expected from communal ownership；
are among the strongest reasons for advocating the change。
In the world as we have been imagining fit； economic fear and most
economic hope will be alike removed out of life。 No one will be haunted
by the dread of poverty or driven into ruthlessness by the hope of wealth。
There will not be the distinction of social classes which now plays such an
immense part in life。 The unsuccessful professional man will not live in
terror lest his children should sink in the scale； the aspiring employe will
not be looking forward to the day when he can become a sweater in his
turn。 Ambitious young men will have to dream other daydreams than that
of business success and wealth wrung out of the ruin of competitors and
the degradation of labor。 In such a world； most of the nightmares that lurk
in the background of men's minds will no longer exist； on the other hand；
ambition and the desire to excel will have to take nobler forms than those
that are encouraged by a commercial society。 All those activities that really
confer benefits upon mankind will be open； not only to the fortunate few；
but to all who have sufficient ambition and native aptitude。 Science； labor…
saving inventions； technical progress of all kinds； may be confidently
expected to flourish far more than at present； since they will be the road to
honor； and honor will have to replace money among those of the young
who desire to achieve success。 Whether art will flourish in a Socialistic
community depends upon the form of Social… ism adopted； if the State； or
any public authority； （no matter what）； insists upon controlling art； and
only licensing those whom it regards as proficient； the result will be
disaster。 But if there is real freedom； allowing every man who so desires to
take up an artist's career at the cost of some sacrifice of comfort； it is
likely that the atmosphere of hope； and the absence of economic
compulsion； will lead to a much smaller waste of talent than is involved in
our present system； and to a much less degree of crushing of impulse in
the mills of the struggle for life。
When elementary needs have been satisfied； the serious happiness of
most men depends upon two things： their work； and their human relations。
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In the world that we have been picturing； work will be free； not excessive；
full of the interest that belongs to a collective enterprise in which there is
rapid progress； with something of the delight of creation even for the
humblest unit。 And in human relations the gain will be just as great as in
work。 The only human relations that have value are those that are rooted in
mutual freedom； where there is no domination and no slavery； no tie
except affection； no economic or conventional necessity to preserve the
external show when the inner life is dead。 One of the most horrible things
about commercialism is the way in which it poisons the relations of men
and women。 The evils of prostitution are generally recognized； but； great
as they are； the effect of economic conditions on marriage seems to me
even worse。 There is not infrequently； in marriage； a suggestion of
purchase； of acquiring a woman on condition of keeping her in a certain
standard of material comfort。 Often and often； a marriage hardly differs
from prostitution except by being harder to escape from。 The whole basis
of these evils is economic。 Economic causes make marriage a matter of
bargain and contract； in which affection is quite secondary； and its absence
constitutes no recognized reason for liberation。 Marriage should be a free；
spontaneous meeting of mutual instinct； filled with happiness not unmixed
with a feeling akin to awe： it should involve that degree of respect of each
for the other that makes even the most trifling interference with liberty an
utter impossibility； and a common life enforced by one against the will of
the other an unthinkable thing of deep horror。 It is not so that marriage is
conceived by lawyers who make settlements； or by priests who give the
name of ‘‘sacrament'' to an institution which pretends to find something
sanctifiable in the brutal lusts or drunken cruelties of a legal husband。 It is
not in a spirit of freedom that marriage is conceived by most men and
women at present： the law makes it an opportunity for indulgence of the
desire to interfere； where each submits to some loss of his or her own
liberty； for the pleasure of curtailing the liberty of the other。 And the
atmosphere of private property makes it more difficult than it otherwise
would be for any better ideal to take root。
It is not so that human relations will be conceived when the evil
heritage of economic slavery has ceased to mold our instincts。 Husbands
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and wives； parents and children； will be only held together by affection：
where that has died； it will be recognized that nothing worth preserving is
left。 Because affection will be free； men and women will not find in
private life an outlet and stimulus to the love of domineering； but all that is
creative in their love will have the freer scope。 Reverence for whatever
makes the soul in those who are loved will be less rare than it is now：
nowadays； many men love their wives in the way in which they love
mutton； as something to devour and destroy。 But in the love that goes with
reverence there is a joy of quite another order than any to be found by
mastery； a joy which satisfies the spirit and not only the instincts； and
satisfaction of instinct and spirit at