首页 >出版文学> The Path of the Law>第2章
  Somuchforthefallacyoflogicalform。Nowletusconsiderthepresentconditionofthelawasasubjectforstudy,andtheidealtowardwhichittends。WestillarefarfromthepointofviewwhichI
  desiretoseereached。Noonehasreacheditorcanreachitasyet。
  Weareonlyatthebeginningofaphilosophicalreaction,andofareconsiderationoftheworthofdoctrineswhichforthemostpartstillaretakenforgrantedwithoutanydeliberate,conscious,andsystematicquestioningoftheirgrounds。Thedevelopmentofourlawhasgoneonfornearlyathousandyears,likethedevelopmentofaplant,eachgenerationtakingtheinevitablenextstep,mind,likematter,simplyobeyingalawofspontaneousgrowth。Itisperfectlynaturalandrightthatitshouldhavebeenso。Imitationisanecessityofhumannature,ashasbeenillustratedbyaremarkableFrenchwriter,M。Tard,inanadmirablebook,LesLoisdel’Imitation。Mostofthethingswedo,wedofornobetterreasonthanthatourfathershavedonethemorthatourneighborsdothem,andthesameistrueofalargerpartthanwesuspectofwhatwethink。Thereasonisagoodone,becauseourshortlifegivesusnotimeforabetter,butitisnotthebest。Itdoesnotfollow,becauseweallarecompelledtotakeonfaithatsecondhandmostoftherulesonwhichwebaseouractionandourthought,thateachofusmaynottrytosetsomecornerofhisworldintheorderofreason,orthatallofuscollectivelyshouldnotaspiretocarryreasonasfarasitwillgothroughoutthewholedomain。Inregardtothelaw,itistrue,nodoubt,thatanevolutionistwillhesitatetoaffirmuniversalvalidityforhissocialideals,orfortheprincipleswhichhethinksshouldbeembodiedinlegislation。Heiscontentifhecanprovethembestforhereandnow。Hemaybereadytoadmitthatheknowsnothingaboutanabsolutebestinthecosmos,andeventhatheknowsnexttonothingaboutapermanentbestformen。Stillitistruethatabodyoflawismorerationalandmorecivilizedwheneveryruleitcontainsisreferredarticulatelyanddefinitelytoanendwhichitsubserves,andwhenthegroundsfordesiringthatendarestatedorarereadytobestatedinwords。
  Atpresent,inverymanycases,ifwewanttoknowwhyaruleoflawhastakenitsparticularshape,andmoreorlessifwewanttoknowwhyitexistsatall,wegototradition。WefollowitintotheYearBooks,andperhapsbeyondthemtothecustomsoftheSalianFranks,andsomewhereinthepast,intheGermanforests,intheneedsofNormankings,intheassumptionsofadominantclass,intheabsenceofgeneralizedideas,wefindoutthepracticalmotiveforwhatnowbestisjustifiedbythemerefactofitsacceptanceandthatmenareaccustomedtoit。Therationalstudyoflawisstilltoalargeextentthestudyofhistory。Historymustbeapartofthestudy,becausewithoutitwecannotknowtheprecisescopeofruleswhichitisourbusinesstoknow。
  Itisapartoftherationalstudy,becauseitisthefirststeptowardanenlightenedscepticism,thatis,towardsadeliberatereconsiderationoftheworthofthoserules。Whenyougetthedragonoutofhiscaveontotheplainandinthedaylight,youcancounthisteethandclaws,andseejustwhatishisstrength。Buttogethimoutisonlythefirststep。Thenextiseithertokillhim,ortotamehimandmakehimausefulanimal。Fortherationalstudyofthelawtheblacklettermanmaybethemanofthepresent,butthemanofthefutureisthemanofstatisticsandthemasterofeconomics。ItisrevoltingtohavenobetterreasonforaruleoflawthanthatsoitwaslaiddowninthetimeofHenryIV。Itisstillmorerevoltingifthegroundsuponwhichitwaslaiddownhavevanishedlongsince,andtherulesimplypersistsfromblindimitationofthepast。Iamthinkingofthetechnicalruleastotrespassabinitio,asitiscalled,whichIattemptedtoexplaininarecentMassachusettscase。
  Letmetakeanillustration,whichcanbestatedinafewwords,toshowhowthesocialendwhichisaimedatbyaruleoflawisobscuredandonlypartiallyattainedinconsequenceofthefactthattheruleowesitsformtoagradualhistoricaldevelopment,insteadofbeingreshapedasawhole,withconsciousarticulatereferencetotheendinview。Wethinkitdesirabletopreventoneman’spropertybeingmisappropriatedbyanother,andsowemakelarcenyacrime。Theevilisthesamewhetherthemisappropriationismadebyamanintowhosehandstheownerhasputtheproperty,orbyonewhowrongfullytakesitaway。Butprimitivelawinitsweaknessdidnotgetmuchbeyondanefforttopreventviolence,andverynaturallymadeawrongfultaking,atrespass,partofitsdefinitionofthecrime。Inmodemtimesthejudgesenlargedthedefinitionalittlebyholdingthat,ifthewrong—doergetspossessionbyatrickordevice,thecrimeiscommitted。Thisreallywasgivinguptherequirementoftrespass,anditwouldhavebeenmorelogical,aswellastruertothepresentobjectofthelaw,toabandontherequirementaltogether。That,however,wouldhaveseemedtoobold,andwaslefttostatute。Statuteswerepassedmakingembezzlementacrime。Buttheforceoftraditioncausedthecrimeofembezzlementtoberegardedassofardistinctfromlarcenythattothisday,insomejurisdictionsatleast,aslipcorneriskeptopenforthievestocontend,ifindictedforlarceny,thattheyshouldhavebeenindictedforembezzlement,andifindictedforembezzlement,thattheyshouldhavebeenindictedforlarceny,andtoescapeonthatground。
  Farmorefundamentalquestionsstillawaitabetteranswerthanthatwedoasourfathershavedone。Whathavewebetterthanablindguesstoshowthatthecriminallawinitspresentformdoesmoregoodthanharm?
  Idonotstoptorefertotheeffectwhichithashadindegradingprisonersandinplungingthemfurtherintocrime,ortothequestionwhetherfineandimprisonmentdonotfallmoreheavilyonacriminal’swifeandchildrenthanonhimself。Ihaveinmindmorefar—reachingquestions。Doespunishmentdeter?Dowedealwithcriminalsonproperprinciples?AmodernschoolofContinentalcriminalistsplumesitselfontheformula,firstsuggested,itissaid,byGall,thatwemustconsiderthecriminalratherthanthecrime。Theformuladoesnotcarryusveryfar,buttheinquirieswhichhavebeenstartedlooktowardananswerofmyquestionsbasedonscienceforthefirsttime。Ifthetypicalcriminalisadegenerate,boundtoswindleortomurderbyasdeepseatedanorganicnecessityasthatwhichmakestherattlesnakebite,itisidletotalkofdeterringhimbytheclassicalmethodofimprisonment。Hemustbegotridof;hecannotbeimproved,orfrightenedoutofhisstructuralreaction。If,ontheotherhand,crime,likenormalhumanconduct,ismainlyamatterofimitation,punishmentfairlymaybeexpectedtohelptokeepitoutoffashion。
  Thestudyofcriminalshasbeenthoughtbysomewellknownmenofsciencetosustaintheformerhypothesis。Thestatisticsoftherelativeincreaseofcrimeincrowdedplaceslikelargecities,whereexamplehasthegreatestchancetowork,andinlesspopulatedparts,wherethecontagionspreadsmoreslowly,havebeenusedwithgreatforceinfavorofthelatterview。Butthereisweightyauthorityforthebeliefthat,howeverthismaybe,"notthenatureofthecrime,butthedangerousnessofthecriminal,constitutestheonlyreasonablelegalcriteriontoguidetheinevitablesocialreactionagainstthecriminal。"
  Theimpedimentstorationalgeneralization,whichIillustratedfromthelawoflarceny,areshownintheotherbranchesofthelaw,aswellasinthatofcrime。Takethelawoftortorcivilliabilityfordamagesapartfromcontractandthelike。Isthereanygeneraltheoryofsuchliability,orarethecasesinwhichitexistssimplytobeenumerated,andtobeexplainedeachonitsspecialground,asiseasytobelievefromthefactthattherightofactionforcertainwellknownclassesofwrongsliketrespassorslanderhasitsspecialhistoryforeachclass?
  Ithinkthatthelawregardstheinflictionoftemporaldamagebyaresponsiblepersonasactionable,ifunderthecircumstancesknowntohimthedangerofhisactismanifestaccordingtocommonexperience,oraccordingtohisownexperienceifitismorethancommon,exceptincaseswhereuponspecialgroundsofpolicythelawrefusestoprotecttheplaintifforgrantsaprivilegetothedefendant。Ithinkthatcommonlymalice,intent,andnegligencemeanonlythatthedangerwasmanifesttoagreaterorlessdegree,underthecircumstancesknowntotheactor,althoughinsomecasesofprivilegemalicemaymeananactualmalevolentmotive,andsuchamotivemaytakeawayapermissionknowinglytoinflictharm,whichotherwisewouldbegrantedonthisorthatgroundofdominantpublicgood。ButwhenIstatedmyviewtoaveryeminentEnglishjudgetheotherday,hesaid,"Youarediscussingwhatthelawoughttobe;asthelawis,youmustshowaright。Amanisnotliablefornegligenceunlessheissubjecttoaduty。"Ifourdifferencewasmorethanadifferenceinwords,orwithregardtotheproportionbetweentheexceptionsandtherule,then,inhisopinion,liabilityforanactcannotbereferredtothemanifesttendencyoftheacttocausetemporaldamageingeneralasasufficientexplanation,butmustbereferredtothespecialnatureofthedamage,ormustbederivedfromsomespecialcircumstancesoutsideofthetendencyoftheact,forwhichnogeneralizedexplanationexists。Ithinkthatsuchaviewiswrong,butitisfamiliar,andIdaresaygenerallyisacceptedinEngland。
  Everywherethebasisofprincipleistradition,tosuchanextentthatweevenareindangerofmakingtheroleofhistorymoreimportantthanitis。TheotherdayProfessorAmeswrotealearnedarticletoshow,amongotherthings,thatthecommonlawdidnotrecognizethedefenceoffraudinactionsuponspecialties,andthemoralmightseemtobethatthepersonalcharacterofthatdefenceisduetoitsequitableorigin。
  Butif,asIsaid,allcontractsareformal,thedifferenceisnotmerelyhistorical,buttheoretic,betweendefectsofformwhichpreventacontractfrombeingmade,andmistakenmotiveswhichmanifestlycouldnotbeconsideredinanysystemthatweshouldcallrationalexceptagainstonewhowasprivytothosemotives。Itisnotconfinedtospecialties,butisofuniversalapplication。IoughttoaddthatIdonotsupposethatMr。AmeswoulddisagreewithwhatIsuggest。
  However,ifweconsiderthelawofcontract,wefinditfullofhistory。
  Thedistinctionsbetweendebt,covenant,andassumpsitaremerelyhistorical。Theclassificationofcertainobligationstopaymoney,imposedbythelawirrespectiveofanybargainasquasicontracts,ismerelyhistorical。Thedoctrineofconsiderationismerelyhistorical。
  Theeffectgiventoasealistobeexplainedbyhistoryalone。
  Considerationisamereform。Isitausefulform?Ifso,whyshoulditnotberequiredinallcontracts?Asealisamereform,andisvanishinginthescrollandinenactmentsthataconsiderationmustbegiven,sealornoseal。Whyshouldanymerelyhistoricaldistinctionbeallowedtoaffecttherightsandobligationsofbusinessmen?
  SinceIwrotethisdiscourseIhavecomeonaverygoodexampleofthewayinwhichtraditionnotonlyoverridesrationalpolicy,butoverridesitafterfirsthavingbeenmisunderstoodandhavingbeengivenanewandbroaderscopethanithadwhenithadameaning。ItisthesettledlawofEnglandthatamaterialalterationofawrittencontractbyapartyavoidsitasagainsthim。Thedoctrineiscontrarytothegeneraltendencyofthelaw。Wedonottellajurythatifamaneverhasliedinoneparticularheistobepresumedtolieinall。Evenifamanhastriedtodefraud,itseemsnosufficientreasonforpreventinghimfromprovingthetruth。Objectionsoflikenatureingeneralgototheweight,nottotheadmissibility,ofevidence。Moreover,thisruleisirrespectiveoffraud,andisnotconfinedtoevidence。Itisnotmerelythatyoucannotusethewriting,butthatthecontractisatanend。Whatdoesthismean?Theexistenceofawrittencontractdependsonthefactthattheoffererandoffereehaveinterchangedtheirwrittenexpressions,notonthecontinuedexistenceofthoseexpressions。Butinthecaseofabond,theprimitivenotionwasdifferent。Thecontractwasinseparablefromtheparchment。Ifastrangerdestroyedit,ortoreofftheseal,oralteredit,theobligeecountnotrecover,howeverfreefromfault,becausethedefendant’scontract,thatis,theactualtangiblebondwhichhehadsealed,couldnotbeproducedintheforminwhichitboundhim。AboutahundredyearsagoLordKenyonundertooktousehisreasononthetradition,ashesometimesdidtothedetrimentofthelaw,and,notunderstandingit,saidhecouldseenoreasonwhywhatwastrueofabondshouldnotbetrueofothercontracts。Hisdecisionhappenedtoberight,asitconcernedapromissorynote,whereagainthecommonlawregardedthecontractasinseparablefromthepaperonwhichitwaswritten,butthereasoningwasgeneral,andsoonwasextendedtootherwrittencontracts,andvariousabsurdandunrealgroundsofpolicywereinventedtoaccountfortheenlargedrule。
  Itrustthatnoonewillunderstandmetobespeakingwithdisrespectofthelaw,becauseIcriticiseitsofreely。Iveneratethelaw,andespeciallyoursystemoflaw,asoneofthevastestproductsofthehumanmind。NooneknowsbetterthanIdothecountlessnumberofgreatintellectsthathavespentthemselvesinmakingsomeadditionorimprovement,thegreatestofwhichistriflingwhencomparedwiththemightywhole。Ithasthefinaltitletorespectthatitexists,thatitisnotaHegeliandream,butapartofthelivesofmen。Butonemaycriticiseevenwhatonereveres。Lawisthebusinesstowhichmylifeisdevoted,andIshouldshowlessthandevotionifIdidnotdowhatinmeliestoimproveit,and,whenIperceivewhatseemstometheidealofitsfuture,ifIhesitatedtopointitoutandtopresstowarditwithallmyheart。
  PerhapsIhavesaidenoughtoshowthepartwhichthestudyofhistorynecessarilyplaysintheintelligentstudyofthelawasitistoday。
  IntheteachingofthisschoolandatCambridgeitisinnodangerofbeingundervalued。Mr。BigelowhereandMr。AmesandMr。Thayertherehavemadeimportantcontributionswhichwillnotbeforgotten,andinEnglandtherecenthistoryofearlyEnglishlawbySirFrederickPollockandMr。Maitlandhaslentthesubjectanalmostdeceptivecharm。Wemustbewareofthepitfallofantiquarianism,andmustrememberthatforourpurposesouronlyinterestinthepastisforthelightitthrowsuponthepresent。Ilookforwardtoatimewhenthepartplayedbyhistoryintheexplanationofdogmashallbeverysmall,andinsteadofingeniousresearchweshallspendourenergyonastudyoftheendssoughttobeattainedandthereasonsfordesiringthem。Asasteptowardthatidealitseemstomethateverylawyeroughttoseekanunderstandingofeconomics。Thepresentdivorcebetweentheschoolsofpoliticaleconomyandlawseemstomeanevidenceofhowmuchprogressinphilosophicalstudystillremainstobemade。Inthepresentstateofpoliticaleconomy,indeed,wecomeagainuponhistoryonalargerscale,buttherewearecalledontoconsiderandweightheendsoflegislation,themeansofattainingthem,andthecost。Welearnthatforeverythingwehavewegiveupsomethingelse,andwearetaughttosettheadvantagewegainagainsttheotheradvantagewelose,andtoknowwhatwearedoingwhenweelect。
  Thereisanotherstudywhichsometimesisundervaluedbythepracticalminded,forwhichIwishtosayagoodword,althoughIthinkagooddealofprettypoorstuffgoesunderthatname。Imeanthestudyofwhatiscalledjurisprudence。Jurisprudence,asIlookatit,issimplylawinitsmostgeneralizedpart。Everyefforttoreduceacasetoaruleisaneffortofjurisprudence,althoughthenameasusedinEnglishisconfinedtothebroadestrulesandmostfundamentalconceptions。Onemarkofagreatlawyeristhatheseestheapplicationofthebroadestrules。ThereisastoryofaVermontjusticeofthepeacebeforewhomasuitwasbroughtbyonefarmeragainstanotherforbreakingachurn。
  Thejusticetooktimetoconsider,andthensaidthathehaslookedthroughthestatutesandcouldfindnothingaboutchurns,andgavejudgmentforthedefendant。Thesamestateofmindisshowninallourcommondigestsandtextbooks。ApplicationsofrudimentaryrulesofcontractortortaretuckedawayundertheheadofRailroadsorTelegraphsorgotoswelltreatisesonhistoricalsubdivisions,suchasShippingorEquity,oraregatheredunderanarbitrarytitlewhichisthoughtlikelytoappealtothepracticalmind,suchasMercantileLaw。
  Ifamangoesintolawitpaystobeamasterofit,andtobeamasterofitmeanstolookstraightthroughallthedramaticincidentsandtodiscernthetruebasisforprophecy。Therefore,itiswelltohaveanaccuratenotionofwhatyoumeanbylaw,byaright,byaduty,bymalice,intent,andnegligence,byownership,bypossession,andsoforth。Ihaveinmymindcasesinwhichthehighestcourtsseemtometohaveflounderedbecausetheyhadnoclearideasonsomeofthesethemes。Ihaveillustratedtheirimportancealready。Ifafurtherillustrationiswished,itmaybefoundbyreadingtheAppendixtoSirJamesStephen’sCriminalLawonthesubjectofpossession,andthenturningtoPollockandWright’senlightenedbook。SirJamesStephenisnottheonlywriterwhoseattemptstoanalyzelegalideashavebeenconfusedbystrivingforauselessquintessenceofallsystems,insteadofanaccurateanatomyofone。ThetroublewithAustinwasthathedidnotknowenoughEnglishlaw。ButstillitisapracticaladvantagetomasterAustin,andhispredecessors,HobbesandBentham,andhisworthysuccessors,HollandandPollock。SirFrederickPollock’srecentlittlebookistouchedwiththefelicitywhichmarksallhisworks,andiswhollyfreefromthepervertinginfluenceofRomanmodels。
  Theadviceoftheelderstoyoungmenisveryapttobeasunrealasalistofthehundredbestbooks。AtleastinmydayIhadmyshareofsuchcounsels,andhighamongtheunrealitiesIplacetherecommendationtostudytheRomanlaw。IassumethatsuchadvicemeansmorethancollectingafewLatinmaximswithwhichtoornamentthediscourse——thepurposeforwhichLordCokerecommendedBracton。Ifthatisallthatiswanted,thetitleDeRegulisJurisAntiquicanbereadinanhour。I
  assumethat,ifitiswelltostudytheRomanLaw,itiswelltostudyitasaworkingsystem。Thatmeansmasteringasetoftechnicalitiesmoredifficultandlessunderstoodthanourown,andstudyinganothercourseofhistorybywhichevenmorethanourowntheRomanlawmustexplained。Ifanyonedoubtsme,lethimreadKeller’sDerRomischeCivilProcessunddieActionen,atreatiseonthepraetor’sedict,Muirhead’smostinterestingHistoricalIntroductiontothePrivateLawofRome,and,togivehimthebestchance,Sohn’sadmirableInstitutes。
  No。Thewaytogainaliberalviewofyoursubjectisnottoreadsomethingelse,buttogettothebottomofthesubjectitself。Themeansofdoingthatare,inthefirstplace,tofollowtheexistingbodyofdogmaintoitshighestgeneralizationsbythehelpofjurisprudence;
  next,todiscoverfromhistoryhowithascometobewhatitis;andfinally,sofarasyoucan,toconsidertheendswhichtheseveralrulesseektoaccomplish,thereasonswhythoseendsaredesired,whatisgivenuptogainthem,andwhethertheyareworththeprice。
  Wehavetoolittletheoryinthelawratherthantoomuch,especiallyonthisfinalbranchofstudy。WhenIwasspeakingofhistory,Imentionedlarcenyasanexampletoshowhowthelawsufferedfromnothavingembodiedinaclearformarulewhichwillaccomplishitsmanifestpurpose。Inthatcasethetroublewasduetothesurvivalofformscomingfromatimewhenamorelimitedpurposewasentertained。Letmenowgiveanexampletoshowthepracticalimportance,forthedecisionofactualcases,ofunderstandingthereasonsofthelaw,bytakinganexamplefromruleswhich,sofarasIknow,neverhavebeenexplainedortheorizedaboutinanyadequateway。Irefertostatutesoflimitationandthelawofprescription。Theendofsuchrulesisobvious,butwhatisthejustificationfordeprivingamanofhisrights,apureevilasfarasitgoes,inconsequenceofthelapseoftime?Sometimesthelossofevidenceisreferredto,butthatisasecondarymatter。Sometimesthedesirabilityofpeace,butwhyispeacemoredesirableaftertwentyyearsthanbefore?Itisincreasinglylikelytocomewithouttheaidoflegislation。Sometimesitissaidthat,ifamanneglectstoenforcehisrights,hecannotcomplainif,afterawhile,thelawfollowshisexample。Nowifthisisallthatcanbesaidaboutit,youprobablywilldecideacaseIamgoingtoput,fortheplaintiff;ifyoutaketheviewwhichIshallsuggest,youpossiblywilldecideitforthedefendant。Amanissuedfortrespassuponland,andjustifiesunderarightofway。Heprovesthathehasusedthewayopenlyandadverselyfortwentyyears,butitturnsoutthattheplaintiffhadgrantedalicensetoapersonwhomhereasonablysupposedtobethedefendant’sagent,althoughnotsoinfact,andthereforehadassumedthattheuseofthewaywaspermissive,inwhichcasenorightwouldbegained。Hasthedefendantgainedarightornot?Ifhisgainingitstandsonthefaultandneglectofthelandownerintheordinarysense,asseemscommonlytobesupposed,therehasbeennosuchneglect,andtherightofwayhasnotbeenacquired。ButifIwerethedefendant’scounsel,I
  shouldsuggestthatthefoundationoftheacquisitionofrightsbylapseoftimeistobelookedforinthepositionofthepersonwhogainsthem,notinthatoftheloser。SirHenryMainehasmadeitfashionabletoconnectthearchaicnotionofpropertywithprescription。Buttheconnectionisfurtherbackthanthefirstrecordedhistory。Itisinthenatureofman’smind。Athingwhichyouhaveenjoyedandusedasyourownforalongtime,whetherpropertyoranopinion,takesrootinyourbeingandcannotbetornawaywithoutyourresentingtheactandtryingtodefendyourself,howeveryoucamebyit。Thelawcanasknobetterjustificationthanthedeepestinstinctsofman。Itisonlybywayofreplytothesuggestionthatyouaredisappointingtheformerowner,thatyourefertohisneglecthavingallowedthegradualdissociationbetweenhimselfandwhatheclaims,andthegradualassociationofitwithanother。Ifheknowsthatanotherisdoingactswhichontheirfaceshowthatheisonthewaytowardestablishingsuchanassociation,Ishouldarguethatinjusticetothatotherhewasboundathisperiltofindoutwhethertheotherwasactingunderhispermission,toseethathewaswarned,and,ifnecessary,stopped。
  Ihavebeenspeakingaboutthestudyofthelaw,andIhavesaidnexttonothingaboutwhatcommonlyistalkedaboutinthatconnection——text—
  booksandthecasesystem,andallthemachinerywithwhichastudentcomesmostimmediatelyincontact。NorshallIsayanythingaboutthem。
  Theoryismysubject,notpracticaldetails。Themodesofteachinghavebeenimprovedsincemytime,nodoubt,butabilityandindustrywillmastertherawmaterialwithanymode。Theoryisthemostimportantpartofthedogmaofthelaw,asthearchitectisthemostimportantmanwhotakespartinthebuildingofahouse。Themostimportantimprovementsofthelasttwenty—fiveyearsareimprovementsintheory。
  Itisnottobefearedasunpractical,for,tothecompetent,itsimplymeansgoingtothebottomofthesubject。Fortheincompetent,itsometimesistrue,ashasbeensaid,thataninterestingeneralideasmeansanabsenceofparticularknowledge。Irememberinarmydaysreadingofayouthwho,beingexaminedforthelowestgradeandbeingaskedaquestionaboutsquadrondrill,answeredthatheneverhadconsideredtheevolutionsoflessthantenthousandmen。Buttheweakandfoolishmustbelefttotheirfolly。Thedangeristhattheableandpracticalmindedshouldlookwithindifferenceordistrustuponideastheconnectionofwhichwiththeirbusinessisremote。Iheardastory,theotherday,ofamanwhohadavalettowhomhepaidhighwages,subjecttodeductionforfaults。Oneofhisdeductionswas,"Forlackofimagination,fivedollars。"Thelackisnotconfinedtovalets。
  Theobjectofambition,power,generallypresentsitselfnowadaysintheformofmoneyalone。Moneyisthemostimmediateform,andisaproperobjectofdesire。"Thefortune,"saidRachel,"isthemeasureofintelligence。"Thatisagoodtexttowakenpeopleoutofafool’sparadise。But,asHegelsays,"Itisintheendnottheappetite,buttheopinion,whichhastobesatisfied。"Toanimaginationofanyscopethemostfar—reachingformofpowerisnotmoney,itisthecommandofideas。Ifyouwantgreatexamples,readMr。LeslieStephen’sHistoryofEnglishThoughtintheEighteenthCentury,andseehowahundredyearsafterhisdeaththeabstractspeculationsofDescarteshadbecomeapracticalforcecontrollingtheconductofmen。ReadtheworksofthegreatGermanjurists,andseehowmuchmoretheworldisgovernedtodaybyKantthanbyBonaparte。WecannotallbeDescartesorKant,butweallwanthappiness。Andhappiness,Iamsurefromhavingknownmanysuccessfulmen,cannotbewonsimplybybeingcounselforgreatcorporationsandhavinganincomeoffiftythousanddollars。Anintellectgreatenoughtowintheprizeneedsotherfoodbesidessuccess。Theremoterandmoregeneralaspectsofthelawarethosewhichgiveituniversalinterest。Itisthroughthemthatyounotonlybecomeagreatmasterinyourcalling,butconnectyoursubjectwiththeuniverseandcatchanechooftheinfinite,aglimpseofitsunfathomableprocess,ahintoftheuniversallaw。