(H.) With all my heart. Ask away.



CHAPTER XII: CONCERNING THE ARRANGEMENT OF LIFE



"Well," I said, "about those 'arrangements' which you spoke of as
taking the place of government, could you give me any account of
them?"

"Neighbour," he said, "although we have simplified our lives a great
deal from what they were, and have got rid of many conventionalities
and many sham wants, which used to give our forefathers much trouble,
yet our life is too complex for me to tell you in detail by means of
words how it is arranged; you must find that out by living amongst
us. It is true that I can better tell you what we don't do, than
what we do do."

"Well?" said I.

"This is the way to put it," said he: "We have been living for a
hundred and fifty years, at least, more or less in our present
manner, and a tradition or habit of life has been growing on us; and
that habit has become a habit of acting on the whole for the best.
It is easy for us to live without robbing each other. It would be
possible for us to contend with and rob each other, but it would be
harder for us than refraining from strife and robbery. That is in
short the foundation of our life and our happiness."