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diet； our trade； our social customs。 Do you complain of the laws of
Property？ It is a pedantry to give such importance to them。 Can we
not play the game of life with these counters； as well as with those；
in the institution of property； as well as out of it。 Let into it
the new and renewing principle of love； and property will be
universality。 No one gives the impression of superiority to the
institution； which he must give who will reform it。 It makes no
difference what you say： you must make me feel that you are aloof
from it； by your natural and super…natural advantages； do easily see
to the end of it； do see how man can do without it。 Now all men
are on one side。 No man deserves to be heard against property。 Only
Love； only an Idea； is against property； as we hold it。 I cannot
afford to be irritable and captious； nor to waste all my time in
attacks。 If I should go out of church whenever I hear a false
sentiment； I could never stay there five minutes。 But why come out？
the street is as false as the church； and when I get to my house； or
to my manners； or to my speech； I have not got away from the lie。
When we see an eager assailant of one of these wrongs； a special
reformer； we feel like asking him； What right have you； sir； to your
one virtue？ Is virtue piecemeal？ This is a jewel amidst the rags of
a beggar。 In another way the right will be vindicated。 In the midst
of abuses； in the heart of cities； in the aisles of false churches；
alike in one place and in another； wherever； namely； a just and
heroic soul finds itself； there it will do what is next at hand； and
by the new quality of character it shall put forth； it shall abrogate
that old condition； law or school in which it stands； before the law
of its own mind。 If partiality was one fault of the movement party；
the other defect was their reliance on Association。 Doubts such as
those I have intimated； drove many good persons to agitate the
questions of social reform。 But the revolt against the spirit of
commerce； the spirit of aristocracy； and the inveterate abuses of
cities； did not appear possible to individuals； and to do battle
against numbers； they armed themselves with numbers； and against
concert； they relied on new concert。 Following； or advancing beyond
the ideas of St。 Simon； of Fourier； and of Owen； three communities
have already been formed in Massachusetts on kindred plans； and many
more in the country at large。 They aim to give every member a share
in the manual labor； to give an equal reward to labor and to talent；
and to unite a liberal culture with an education to labor。 The
scheme offers； by the economies of associated labor and expense； to
make every member rich； on the same amount of property； that； in
separate families； would leave every member poor。 These new
associations are composed of men and women of superior talents and
sentiments： yet it may easily be questioned； whether such a community
will draw； except in its beginnings； the able and the good； whether
those who have energy； will not prefer their chance of superiority
and power in the world； to the humble certainties of the association；
whether such a retreat does not promise to become an assylum to those
who have tried and failed； rather than a field to the strong； and
whether the members will not necessarily be fractions of men； because
each finds that he cannot enter it； without some compromise。
Friendship and association are very fine things； and a grand phalanx
of the best of the human race； banded for some catholic object： yes；
excellent； but remember that no society can ever be so large as one
man。 He in his friendship； in his natural and momentary
associations； doubles or multiplies himself； but in the hour in which
he mortgages himself to two or ten or twenty； he dwarfs himself below
the stature of one。 But the men of less faith could not thus
believe； and to such； concert appears the sole specific of strength。
I have failed； and you have failed； but perhaps together we shall not
fail。 Our housekeeping is not satisfactory to us； but perhaps a
phalanx； a community； might be。 Many of us have differed in opinion；
and we could find no man who could make the truth plain； but possibly
a college； or an ecclesiastical council might。 I have not been able
either to persuade my brother or to prevail on myself； to disuse the
traffic or the potation of brandy； but perhaps a pledge of total
abstinence might effectually restrain us。 The candidate my party
votes for is not to be trusted with a dollar； but he will be honest
in the Senate； for we can bring public opinion to bear on him。 Thus
concert was the specific in all cases。 But concert is neither better
nor worse； neither more nor less potent than individual force。 All
the men in the world cannot make a statue walk and speak； cannot make
a drop of blood； or a blade of grass； any more than one man can。 But
let there be one man； let there be truth in two men； in ten men； then
is concert for the first time possible； because the force which moves
the world is a new quality； and can never be furnished by adding
whatever quantities of a different kind。 What is the use of the
concert of the false and the disunited？ There can be no concert in
two； where there is no concert in one。 When the individual is not
_individual；_ but is dual； when his thoughts look one way； and his
actions another； when his faith is traversed by his habits； when his
will； enlightened by reason； is warped by his sense； when with one
hand he rows； and with the other backs water； what concert can be？ I
do not wonder at the interest these projects inspire。 The world is
awaking to the idea of union； and these experiments show what it is
thinking of。 It is and will be magic。 Men will live and
communicate； and plough； and reap； and govern； as by added ethereal
power； when once they are united； as in a celebrated experiment； by
expiration and respiration exactly together； four persons lift a
heavy man from the ground by the little finger only； and without
sense of weight。 But this union must be inward； and not one of
covenants； and is to be reached by a reverse of the methods they use。
The union is only perfect； when all the uniters are isolated。 It is
the union of friends who live in different streets or towns。 Each
man； if he attempts to join himself to others； is on all sides
cramped and diminished of his proportion； and the stricter the union；
the smaller and the more pitiful he is。 But leave him alone； to
recognize in every hour and place the secret soul； he will go up and
down doing the works of a true member； and； to the astonishment of
all； the work will be done with concert； though no man spoke。
Government will be adamantine without any governor。 The union must
be ideal in actual individualism。 I pass to the indication in some
particulars of that faith in man； which the heart is preaching to us
in these days； and which engages