"Yes," I said, "and besides, it does not press hardly on the
minority: for, take this matter of the bridge, no man is obliged to
work on it if he doesn't agree to its building. At least, I suppose
not."

He smiled, and said: "Shrewdly put; and yet from the point of view
of the native of another planet. If the man of the minority does
find his feelings hurt, doubtless he may relieve them by refusing to
help in building the bridge. But, dear neighbour, that is not a very
effective salve for the wound caused by the 'tyranny of a majority'
in our society; because all work that is done is either beneficial or
hurtful to every member of society. The man is benefited by the
bridge-building if it turns out a good thing, and hurt by it if it
turns out a bad one, whether he puts a hand to it or not; and
meanwhile he is benefiting the bridge-builders by his work, whatever
that may be. In fact, I see no help for him except the pleasure of
saying 'I told you so' if the bridge-building turns out to be a
mistake and hurts him; if it benefits him he must suffer in silence.
A terrible tyranny our Communism, is it not? Folk used often to be
warned against this very unhappiness in times past, when for every
well-fed, contented person you saw a thousand miserable starvelings.
Whereas for us, we grow fat and well-liking on the tyranny; a
tyranny, to say the truth, not to be made visible by any microscope I
know. Don't be afraid, my friend; we are not going to seek for
troubles by calling our peace and plenty and happiness by ill names
whose very meaning we have forgotten!"

He sat musing for a little, and then started and said: "Are there
any more questions, dear guest? The morning is waning fast amidst my