pleasant; or else because it has grown into a pleasurable HABIT, as
in the case with what you may call mechanical work; and lastly (and
most of our work is of this kind) because there is conscious sensuous
pleasure in the work itself; it is done, that is, by artists."

"I see," said I. "Can you now tell me how you have come to this
happy condition? For, to speak plainly, this change from the
conditions of the older world seems to me far greater and more
important than all the other changes you have told me about as to
crime, politics, property, marriage."

"You are right there," said he. "Indeed, you may say rather that it
is this change which makes all the others possible. What is the
object of Revolution? Surely to make people happy. Revolution
having brought its foredoomed change about, how can you prevent the
counter-revolution from setting in except by making people happy?
What! shall we expect peace and stability from unhappiness? The
gathering of grapes from thorns and figs from thistles is a
reasonable expectation compared with that! And happiness without
happy daily work is impossible."

"Most obviously true," said I: for I thought the old boy was
preaching a little. "But answer my question, as to how you gained
this happiness."

"Briefly," said he, "by the absence of artificial coercion, and the
freedom for every man to do what he can do best, joined to the
knowledge of what productions of labour we really wanted. I must
admit that this knowledge we reached slowly and painfully."