THE END OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE

attaining economic ends than any alternativesystem yet in sight, but that in itself it is inmany ways extremely objectionable. Ourproblem is to work out a social organisationwhich shall be as efficient as possible withoutoffending our notions of a satisfactory wayof life.

The next step forward must come, not frompolitical agitation or premature experiments,but from thought. We need by an effort ofthe mind to elucidate our own feelings. Atpresent our sympathy and our judgment areliable to be on different sides, which is a painfuland paralysing state of mind. In the field ofaction reformers will not be successful untilthey can steadily pursue a clear and definiteobject with their intellects and their feelingsin tune. There is no party in the world atpresent which appears to me to be pursuingright aims by right methods. MaterialPoverty provides the incentive to changeprecisely in situations where there is verylittle margin for experiments. MaterialProsperity removes the incentive just when

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