At this moment I am the proprietor of vested interests which are scattered over half the world.
So far from finding that I love my kind any more for all these social stakes, I am compelled to see that the wish to protect one, is constantly driving me into acts of injustice against all the others.
There is something wrong, depend on it, Anna, in the old dogmas of political economists!" "I know little of these things, Sir John, but to one ignorant as myself, it would appear that the most certain security for the righteous exercise of power is to be found in just principles." "If available, beyond a question.

They who contend that the debased and ignorant are unfit to express their opinions concerning the public weal, are obliged to own that they can only be restrained by force.

Now, as knowledge is power, their first precaution is to keep them ignorant; and then they quote this very ignorance, with all its debasing consequences, as an argument against their participating in authority with themselves.
I believe there can be no safe medium between a frank admission of the whole principle--" "You should remember, dear Goldencalf, that this is a subject on which I know but little.

It ought to be sufficient for us that we find things as they are; if change is actually necessary, we should endeavor to effect it with prudence and a proper regard to justice." Anna, while kindly leading me back from my speculations, looked both anxious and pained.
"True--true"-- I hurriedly rejoined, for a world would not tempt me to prolong her suffering for a moment.

"I am foolish and forgetful, to be talking thus at such a moment; but I have endured too much to be altogether unmindful of ancient theories.