ABSTRACT
The virtue of liberalism is a sort of intellectual kindness or courtesy to all possible wills. Yet what a melancholy kindness is this, to leave the inoffensive liberal helpless before unkindness! Government needs to be based on the principle that men are by nature fundamentally helpless and automatic. They are not wicked expressly or prevailingly, but only when it happens; and they have benevolent impulses too, as the existence of society and of liberalism sufficiently proves. But all living creatures become wicked under pressure. Absolute singleness of purpose cannot but be ruthless; it is ruthless initially, because it has no eye for any contrary interest; and it becomes ruthless again deliberately in the end, because all contrary interests seem odious and sinful to its fanaticism.
