Strength and happiness / by Richard A. Proctor.

  • Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Strength and happiness / by Richard A. Proctor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nity. To quote tlie illustrative cases cited by Mr. Spencer, “ the larger tbe number of a shopkeeper’s bills left unpaid by some customers, the higher must be the prices which other customers pay; the more manufacturers lose by defective raw materials or by carelessness of workmen, the more must they charge for their fabrics to buyers. The less trustworthy people are, the higher rises the rate of interest, the larger becomes the amount of capital hoarded, the greater are the impediments to industry; the further traders and people in general go beyond their means, and hypothecate the property of others in speculation, the more serious are those commercial panics which bring disasters on multitudes and injuriously affect all.” But we recognise the necessity of a more thorough altruism than that which merely considers the rights of others. That a community should progress as it ought, each member of the body social should feel that it is a part of his personal duty to consider the well-being of the rest. The weakness and the w^ant of skill, the ill-health and the imperfect educa- tion of his fellows are injurious to him and to all. In such degree as weakness or want of skill affect the productive power of some members of the community, the comfort and happiness of the stronger and more skilful are affected. The weak and inefficient members, who cannot provide for themselves, must be provided for somehow. The trouble to the community which would arise from any plan for leaving the weak and
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