Moral Advancement Depends Absolutely On
The Humanising Influences Of Intellectual Advancement.
The
foreseeing of consequences is a question of intelligence.
And the appreciation of consequences which follow is the
basis of morality. But we must not begin at the wrong end.
The true foundation and condition of intellectual and moral
progress postulates material and physical improvement. The
growth of artificial wants is as much the cause as the effect
of civilisation: they proceed PARI PASSU. A taste of
comfort begets a love of comfort. And this kind of love
militates, not impotently, against the other; for self-
interest is a persuasive counsellor, and gets a hearing when
the blood is cool. Life must be more than possible, it must
be endurable; man must have some leisure, some repose, before
his brain-needs have a chance with those of his belly. He
must have a coat to his back before he can stick a rose in
its button-hole. The worst of it is, he begins - in Bethnal
Green at least - with the rose-bud; and indulges, poor devil!
in a luxury which is just the most expensive, and - in our
Bethnal Greens - the most suicidal he could resort to.
There was one method I adopted with a show of temporary
success now and then. It frequently happens that a man
succumbs to difficulties for which he is not responsible, and
which timely aid may enable him to overcome. An artisan may
have to pawn or sell the tools by which he earns his living.
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