V

THE FUTURE

373

The face at which we can reach our destina-tion of economic bliss will be governed by fourthings—our power to control population, ourdetermination to avoid wars and civil dissen-sions, our willingness to entrust to science thedirection of those matters which are properlythe concern of science, and the rate of accumula-tion as fixed by the margin between our pro-duction and our consumption; of which the lastwill easily look after itself, given the first three.

Meanwhile there will be no harm in makingmild preparations for our destiny, in encourag-ing, and experimenting in, the arts of life aswell as the activities of purpose.

But, chiefly, do not let us overestimate theimportance of the economic problem, or sacrificeto its supposed necessities other matters ofgreater and more permanent significance. Itshould be a matter for specialists—like den-tistry. If economists could manage to get them-selves thought of as humble, competent people,on a level with dentists, that would be splendid!