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excommunicated； interlopers； imposed on the orthodox majority to say
masses which they deem sacrilegious and to administer sacraments which
they refuse to accept。
In the last place； even when the rulers do not subordinate the
interests of the institution to their passions； to their theories； or
to their own interests； even when they avoid mutilating it and
changing its nature； even when they loyally fulfill； as well as they
know how； the supererogatory （distributive） mandate which they have
adjudged to themselves； they infallibly fulfill it badly； at least
worse than the special and spontaneous bodies for which they
substitute themselves； for the structure of these bodies and the
structure of the state are different。 … Unique of its kind； alone
wielding the sword； acting from above and afar by authority and
constraints； the State acts over the entire territory through uniform
laws； through imperative and minute regulations； by a hierarchy of
obedient functionaries； which it maintains under strict instructions。
Hence； it is not adapted to business which； to be well done； needs
springs and processes of another species。 Its springs； wholly
exterior； are insufficient； too weak to support and push undertakings
which require an internal motor like private interest； local
patriotism； family affections； scientific curiosity； charitable
instincts； and religious faith。 Its wholly mechanical processes； too
rigid and too limited； cannot urge on enterprises which demand of
whoever undertakes them delicate and safe handling； supple
manipulation； appreciation of circumstances； ready adaptation of means
to ends； constant contrivance； the initiative； and perfect
independence。 On this account the State is a poor head of a family； a
poor commercial or agricultural leader； a bad distributor of labor and
of subsistence； a bad regulator of production； exchanges； and
consumption； a mediocre administrator of the province and the commune；
an undiscerning philanthropist； an incompetent director of the fine
arts； of science； of instruction； and of worship。＇8＇ In all these
offices its action is either dilatory or bungling； according to
routine or oppressive； always expensive； of little effect and feeble
in returns； and always beyond or apart from the real wants it pretends
to satisfy。 The reason is that it starts from too high a point
therefore extending over too vast a field。 Transmitted by hierarchical
procedures； it lags along in formalism； and loses itself in 〃red…
tape。〃 On attaining its end and object it applies the same program to
all territories alike a program devised beforehand in the Cabinet； all
of a piece； without experimental groping and the necessary
corrections；
* a program which； calculated approximately according to the average
and the customary； is not exactly suited to any particular case；
* a program which imposes its fixed uniformity on things instead of
adjusting itself to its diversity and change；
* a sort of model coat； obligatory in pattern and stuff； which the
government dispatches by thousands from the center to the provinces；
to be worn； willingly or not； by figures of all sizes and at all
seasons。
V。 Final Results of Abusive Government Intervention
Other consequences。 … Suppressed or stunted bodies cease to grow。 …
Individuals become socially and politically incapable。 … The hands
into which public power then falls。 … Impoverishment and degradation
of the social body。
And much worse。 Not only does the State do the work badly on a domain
not its own； roughly； at greater cost； and with smaller yield than
spontaneous organizations； but； again； through the legal monopoly
which it deems its prerogative； or through its unfair competition； it
kills and paralyzes these natural organizations or prevents their
birth； and hence so many precious organs； which； absorbed； curbed or
abandoned； are lost to the great social body。 … And still worse； if
this system lasts； and continues to crush them out； the human
community loses the faculty of reproducing them； entirely extirpated；
they do not grow again； even their germ has perished。 Individuals no
longer know how to form associations； how to co…operate under their
own impulses； through their own initiative； free of outside and
superior constraint； all together and for a long time in view of a
definite purpose； according to regular forms under freely…chosen
chiefs； frankly accepted and faithfully followed。 Mutual confidence；
respect for the law； loyalty； voluntary subordination； foresight；
moderation； patience； perseverance； practical good sense； every
disposition of head and heart； with which no association of any kind
is efficacious or even viable； have died out for lack of exercise。
Henceforth spontaneous； pacific； and fruitful co…operation； as
practiced by a free people； is unattainable； men have arrived at
social incapacity and； consequently； at political incapacity。 … In
fact they no longer choose their own constitution or their own rulers；
they put with these； willingly or not； according as accident or
usurpation furnishes them： now the public power belongs to the man；
the faction； or the party sufficiently unscrupulous； sufficiently
daring； sufficiently violent； to seize and hold on to it by force； to
make the most of it as an egotist or charlatan； aided by parades and
prestige； along with bravura songs and the usual din of ready…made
phrases on the rights of Man and the public salvation。 … This central
power itself has in its hands no body who might give it an impetus and
inspiration； it rules only over an impoverished； inert； or languid
social body； solely capable of intermittent spasms or of artificial
rigidity according to order； an organism deprived of its secondary
organs； simplified to excess； of an inferior or degraded kind； a
people no longer anything but an arithmetical sum of separate；
unconnected units； in brief； human dust or mud。 … This is what the
interference of the State leads to。
There are laws in the social and moral world as in the physiological
and physical world； we may misunderstand them； but we cannot elude
them； they operate now against us； now for us； as we please； but
always alike and without heeding us； it is for us to heed them； for
the two conditions they couple together are inseparable； the moment
the first appears the second inevitably follows。
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Notes：
＇1＇ Macaulay； 〃Essays： Gladstone on Church and State。〃 … This
principle； of capital importance and of remarkable fecundity； may be
called the principle of specialties。 Adam Smith fist applied it to
machines and to workmen。 Macaulay extended it to human associations。
Milne…Edwards applied it to the entire series of animal organs。
Herbert Spencer largely develops it in connection with physiological
organs and human societies in his 〃Principles of Biology〃 and
〃Principles of Sociology。〃