首页 >出版文学> The Slavery of Our Times>第3章
  Itissaid,"Howcanpeoplelivewithoutgovernments—thatis,withoutviolence?"Butitshould,onthecontrary,beasked,"Howcanpeoplewhoarerationallive,acknowledgmgthatthevitalbondoftheirsociallifeisviolence,andnotreasonableagreement?"
  Oneoftwothings—eitherpeoplearerationalorirrationalbeings。
  Iftheyareirrationalbeings,thentheyareallirrational,andtheneverythingamongthemisdecidedbyviolence;andthereisnoreasonwhycertainpeopleshouldandothersshouldnothavearighttouseviolence。Andinthatcasegovernmentalviolencehasnojustification。Butifmenarerationalbeings,thentheirrelationsshouldbebasedonreason,andnotontheviolenceofthosewhohappentohaveseizedpower;and,therefore,inthatcase,again,governmentalviolencehasnojustification。*Theartelinitsmostusualformisanassociationofworkmen,oremployees,foreachofwhomthearteliscollectivelyresponsible。—Translator**Serfdomwaslegalisedabout1597byBorisGodunoff,whoforbadethepeasantstoleavethelandonwhichtheyweresettled。Thepeasants’theoryofthematterwasthattheybelongedtotheproprietor,butthelandbelongedtothem。"Weareyours,butthelandisours,"wasacommonsayingamongthemtilltheiremancipationunderAlexanderII。,whenmanyofthemfeltthemselvesdefraudedbythearrangementwhichgavehalfthelandtotheproprietors。—Trans。
  ***Thesokhaisalightplough,suchastheRussianpeasantsmakeanduse。—Trans。
  TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch14——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERXIV。
  HOWCANGOVERNMENTSBEABOLISHED?
  SLAVERYresultsfromlaws,lawsaremadebygovernments,and,therefore,peoplecanonlybefreedfromslaverybytheabolitionofgovernments。
  Buthowcangovernmentsbeabolished?
  Allattemptstogetridofgovernmentsbyviolencehavehitherto,alwaysandeverywhere,resultedonlyinthis:thatinplaceofthedeposedgovernmentsnewonesestablishedthemselves,oftenmorecruelthanthosetheyreplaced。
  Nottomentionpastattemptstoabolishgovemmentsbyviolence,accordingtotheSocialisttheory,thecomingabolitionoftheruleofthecapitalists—thatis,thecommunalisationofthemeansofproductionandtheneweconomicorderofsociety—isalsotobecarriedoutbyafreshorganisationofviolence,andwillhavetobemaintainedbythesamemeans。Sothatattemptstoabolishviolencebyviolenceneitherhaveinthepastnor,evidently,caninthefutureemancipatepeoplefromviolencenor,consequently,fromslavery。
  Itcannotbeotherwise。
  Apartfromoutburstsofrevengeoranger,violenceisusedonlyinordertocompelsomepeople,againsttheirownwill,todothewillofothers。Butthenecessitytodowhatotherpeoplewishagainstyourownwillisslavery。
  And,therefore,aslongasanyviolence,designedtocompelsomepeopletodothewillofothers,existstherewillbeslavery。
  Alltheattemptstoabolishslaverybyviolencearelikeextinguishingfirewithfire,stoppingwaterwithwater,orfillinguponeholebydigginganother。
  Therefore,themeansofescapefromslavery,ifsuchmeansexist,mustbefound,notinsettingupfreshviolence,butinabolishingwhateverreudersgovernmentalviolencepossible。Andthepossibilityofgovernmentalviolence,likeeveryotherviolenceperpetratedbyasmallnumberofpeopleuponalargernumber,hasalwaysdepended,andstilldepends,simplyonthefactthatthesmallnumberarearmedwhilethelargenumberareUnarmed,orthatthesmallnuinberarebetterarmedthanthelargenumber。
  Thathasbeenthecaseinalltheconquests:
  itwasthustheGreeks,theRomans,theKnights,andPizarrosconquerednations,anditisthusthatpeoplearenowconqueredinAfricaandAsia。Andinthissamewayintimesofpeaceallgovernmentsholdtheirsubjectsinsubjection。
  Asofold,sonow,peopleruleoverotherpeopleonlybecausesomearearmedandothersarenot。
  Inoldentimesthewarriors,withtheirchiefs,felluponthedefencelessinhabitants,subduedthemandrobbedthem,andalldividedthespoilsinproportiontotheirparticipation,courageandcruelty;andeachwarriorsawclearlythattheviolenceheperpetratedwasprofitabletohim。Now,armedmen(takenchieflyfromtheworkingclasses)attackdefencelesspeople:menonstrikes,rioters,ortheinhabitantsofothercountries,andsubduethemandrobthem—thatis,makethemyieldthefruitsoftheirlabour—notforthemselves,butforpeoplewhodonoteventakeashareinthesubjugation。
  Thedifferencebetweentheconquerorsandthegovernmentsisonlythattheconquerorshavethemselves,withtheirsoldiers,attackedtheunarmedinhabitantsandhave,incasesofinsubordination,carriedtheirthreatstotortureandtokillintoexecution;whilethegovernments,incasesofinsubordination,donotthemselvestortureorexecutetheunarmedinhabitants,butobligeotherstodoitwhohavebeendeceivedandspeciallybrutalisedforthepurpose,andwhoarechosenfromamongtheverypeopleonwhomthegovernmentinflictsviolence。
  Thus,violencewasformerlyinflictedbypersonaleffort,bythecourage,crueltyandagilityoftheconquerorsthemselves,butnowviolenceisinflictedbymeansoffraud。
  Sothatifformerly,inordertogetridofarmedviolence,itwasnecessarytoarmoneselfandtoopposearmedviolencebyarmedviolence,nowwhenpeoplearesubdued,notbydirectviolence,butbyfraud,inordertoabolishviolenceitisonlynecessarytoexposethedeceptionwhichenablesasmallnumberofpeopletoexerciseviolenceuponalargernumber。
  Thedeceptionbymeansofwhichthisisdoneconsistsinthefactthatthesmallnumberwhorule,onobtainingpowerfromtheirpredecessors,whowereinstalledbyconquest,saytothemajority:"Therearealotofyou,butyouarestupidanduneducated,andcannoteithergovernyourselvesororganiseyourpublicaffairs,and,therefore,wewilltakethosecaresonourselves;wewillprotectyoufromforeignfoes,andarrangeandmaintaininternalpeaceamongyou;wewillsetupcourtsofjustice,arrangeforyouandtakecareofpublicinstitutions—schools,roads,andthepostalserviceandingeneralwewilltakecareofyourwell—being;andinreturnforallthisyouonlyhavetofulfilthoseslightdemandswhichwemake,and,amongotherthings,youmustgiveintoourcompletecontrolasmallpartofyourincomes,andyoumustyourselvesenterthearmieswhichareneededforyourownsafetyandgovernment。
  Andmostpeopleagreetothis,notbecausetheyhaveweighedtheadvantagesanddisadvantagesof~theseconditions(theyneverhaveachancetodothat),butbecausefromtheirverybirththeyhavefoundthemselvesinconditionssuchasthese。
  Ifdoubtssuggestthemselvestosomepeopleastowhetherallthisisnecessary,eachonethinksonlyabouthimself,andfearstostifferifherefusestoaccepttheseconditions;eachonehopestotakeadvantageofthemforhisownprofit,andeveryoneagrees,thinkingthatbypayingasmallpartofhismeanstothegovernment,andbyconsentingtomilitaryservice,hecannotdohimselfverymuchharm。
  But,inreality,submissiontothedemandsofgovernmentdepriveshimofallthatisvaluableinhumanlife。
  Andwhenthesoldiersareenrolled,andhired,andarmed,theyaresubjectedtoaspecialtrainingcalleddiscipline,introducedinrecenttimes,sincesoldiershaveceasedtosharetheplunder。
  Disciplineconsistsinthis,thatbycomplexandartfulmethods,whichhavebeenperfectedinthecourseofages,peoplewhoaresubjectedtothistrainingandremainunderitforsometimearecompletelydeprivedofman’schiefattribute,rationalfreedom,andbecomesubmissive,machine—likeinstrumentsofmurderinthehandsoftheirorganisedhierarchicalstratocracy。Anditisinthisdisciplinedarmythattheessenceofthefrauddwellswhichgivestomoderngovernmentsdominionoverthepeoples。
  Assoonasthegovernmenthasthemoneyandthesoldiers,insteadoffulfillingtheirpromisestodefendtheirsubjectsfromforeignenemies,andtoarrangethingsfortheirbenefit,theydoalltheycantoprovoketheneighbouringnationsandtoproducewar;andtheynotonlydonotpromotetheinternalwell—beingoftheirpeople,buttheyruinandcorruptthem。
  IntheArabianNightstllereisastoryofatravellerwho,beingcastuponanuninhabitedisland,foundalittleoldmanwithwitheredlegssittingonthegroundbythesideofastream。Theoldmanaskedthetravellertotakehimonhisshoulderandtocarryhimoverthestream。Thetravellerconsented;butnosoonerwastheoldmansettledonthetraveller’sshouldersthantheformertwinedhislegsroundthelatter’sneckandwouldnotgetoffagain。Havingcontrolofthetraveller,theoldmandrovehimaboutasheliked,pluckedfruitfromtlietreesandateithimself,notgivinganytohisbearer,andabusedhimineveryway。
  Thisisjustwhathappenswiththepeoplewhogivesoldiersandmoneytothegovernments。Withthemoneythegovernmentsbuygunsandlureortrainupbyeducationsubservient,brutalisedmilitarycommanders。Andthesecommanders,bymeansofanartfulsystemofstupefaction,perfectedinthecourseofagesandcalleddiscipline,makethosewhohavebeentakenassoldiersintoadisciplinedarmy。Whenthegovernmentshaveintheirpowerthisinstrumentofviolenceandmurder,thatpossessesnowillofitsown,thewholepeopleareintheirhands,andtheydonotletthemgoagain,andnotonlypreyuponthem,butalsoabusethem,instillingintothepeople,bymeansofapseudo—religiousandpatrioticeducation,loyaltytoan(levenadoratioiiofthenlselves~tliatis,oftheverymenwhokeepthewholepeopleinslaveryandtormentthem。
  Itisnotfornothingthatallthekings,emperors,andpresidentsesteemdisciplinesohighly,aresoafraidofanybreachofdiscipline,andattachthehighestimportancetoreviews,man~uvres,parades,ceremonialmarchesandothersuchnonsense。Theyknowthatitallmaintainsdiscipline,andthatnotonlytheirpower,buttheirveryexistencedependsondiscipline。
  Adisciplinedarmyisnotevenrequiredforadefensivewar,ashasoftenbeenshowninhistoryandaswasagaindemonstratedtheotherdayinSouthAfrica。Adisciplinedarmyisonlyneededforconquest~thatis,forrobbery,orforfratricideorparricide,aswasexpressedbythatmoststupidorinsolentofcrownedpersonages,WilliamII。,whomadeaspeechtol]i~recruitstellingthemtheyhadswornobediencetohim,andoughttobereadytokilltheirownbrothersandfathersshouldhedesireit。Disciplinedarmiesarethemeansbywhichthey,withoutusingtheirownhands,accomplishthegreatestatrocities,thepossibilityofperpetratingwhichgivesthempoweroverthepeople。
  And,therefore,theonlymeanstodestroygovernmentsisnotforce,butitistheexposureofthisfraud。Itisnecessarypeopleshouldunderstand:First,thatinchristendomthereisnoneedtoprotectthepeoplesonefromanotber;thatalltheenmityofthepeoples,onetoanother,areproducedbythegovernmentsthemselves,andthatarmiesareonlyneededbythesmallnumberofthosewhoruleforthepeopleitisnotonlyunnecessary,butitisinthehighestdegreeharmful,servingastheinstrumenttoenslavethem。Secondly,itisnecessarythatpeopleshouldunderstandthatthedisciplinewhichissohighlyesteemedbyallthegovernmentsisthegreatestofcrimesthatmancancommit,andisaclearindicationofthecriminalityoftheaimsofgovernments。
  Disciplineisthesuppressionofreasonandoffreedominman,andcanhavenootheraimthanpreparationfortheperformanceofcrimessuchasnomancancommitwhileinanormalcondition。Itisnotevenneededforwar,wlienthewarisdefensiveandnational,astheBoershaverecentlyshown。ItiswantedandwantedonlyforthepurposeindicatedbyWilliamII。——forthecommittalofthegreatestcrimes,frat—
  ricideandparricide。
  Theterribleoldmanwhosatonthetraveller’sshouldersbehavedinthesameway:hemockedhimandinsultedhim,knowingthataslongashesatonthetraveller’sneckthelatterwasinhispower。
  Anditisjustthisfraud,bymeansofwhichasmallnumberofunworthypeople,calledthegovernment,havepoweroverthepeople,andnotonlyimpoverishthem,butdowhatisthemostharmfulofallactions—pervertwholegenerationsfromchildhoodupwards—justthisterriblefraudwhichshouldbeexposed,inorderthattheabolitionofgovernmentandoftheslaverythatresultsfromitmaybecomepossible。
  TheGermanwriterEugenSchmitt,inthenewspaperOhneStaat,thathepublishedinBuda—Pesth,wroteanarticlethatwasprofoundlytrueandbold,notonlyinexpression,butinthought。Initheshowedthatgovernments,justifyingtheirexistenceonthegroundthattheyensureacertainkindofsafetytotheirsubjects,areliketheCalabrianrobber—chiefwhocollectedaregulartaxfromallwhowishedtotravelinsafetyalongthehighways。
  Schmittwascommittedfortrialforthatarticle,butwasacquittedbythejury。
  Wearesohypnotisedbythegovernmentsthatsuchacomparisonseemstousanexaggeration,aparadox,orajoke;butinrealityitisnotaparadoxorajoke;theonlyinaccuracyinthecomparisonisthattheactivityofallthegovernmentsismanytimesmoreinhumanand,aboveall,moreharmfulthantheactivityoftheCalabrianrobber。
  Therobbergenerallyplunderedtherich,thegovernmentsgenerallyplunderthepoorandprotectthoserichwhoassistintheircrimes。
  Therobberdoinghisworkriskedhislife,whilethegovernmentsrisknothing,butbasetheirwholeactivityonliesanddeception。Therobberdidnotcompelanyonetojoinhisband,thegovernmentsgenerallyenroltheirsoldiersbyforce。Allwhopaidthetaxtotherobberhadequalsecurityfromdanger。Butinthestate,themoreanyonetakespartintheorganisedfraudthemorehereceivesnotmerelyofprotection,butalsoofreward。Mostofall,theemperors,kingsandpresidentsareprotected(withtheirperpetualbody—guards),andtheycanspendthelargestshareofthemoneycollectedfromthetaxpayingsubjects;nextinthescaleofparticipationinthegovernmentalcrimescomethecommanders~in~chief,theministers,theheadsofpolice,governors,andsoon,downtothepolicemen,whoareleastprotected,andwhoreceivethesmallestsalariesofall。
  Thosewhodonottakeanypartinthecrimesofgovernment,whorefusetoserve,topaytaxes,ortogotolaw,aresubjectedtoviolence;asamongtherobbers。Therobberdoesnotintentionallyvitiatepeople,butthegovernments,toaccomplishtheirends,vitiatewholegenerationsfromchildhoodtomanhoodwithfalsereligionsandpatrioticinstruction。
  Aboveall,noteventhemostcruelrobber,noStenkaRazin*orCartouche**canbecomparedforcruelty,pitilessnessandingenuityintorturing,Iwillnotsaywiththevillainkingsnotoriousfortlleircruelty—JohntheTerrible,LouisXI。,theElizabeths,etc。—butevenwiththepresentconstitutionalandliberalgovernments,withtheirsolitarycells,disciplinarybattalions,suppressionsofrevolts,andtheirmassacresinwar。
  Towardsgovernments,astowardschurches,itisimpossibletofeelotherwisethanwithvenerationoraversion。Untilamanhasunderstoodwhatagovernmentisanduntilhehasunderstoodwhatachurchishecannotbutfeelvenerationtowardsthoseinstitutions。Aslongasheisguidedbythemhisvanitymakesitnecessaryforhimtothinkthatwhatguideshimissomethingprimal,greatandholy;butassoonasheunderstandsthatwhatguideshimisnotsomethingprimalandholy,butthatitisafraudcarriedoutbyunworthypeople,who,underthepretenceofguidinghim,makeuseofhimfortheirownpersonalends,hecannotbutatoncefeelaversiontowardsthesepeople,andthemoreimportantthesideofhislifethathasbeenguidedthemoreaversionwillhefeel。
  Peoplecannotbutfeelthiswhentheyhaveunderstoodwhatgovernmentsare。
  Peoplemustfeelthattheirparticipationinthecriminalactivityofgovernments,whetherbygivingpartoftheirworkintheformofmoney,orbydirectparticipationinmilitaryservice,isnot,asisgenerallysupposed,anindifferentaction,but,besidesbeingharmfultoone’ss~fandtoone’sbrothers,isaparticipationinthecrimesunceasinglycommittedbyallgovernmentsandapreparationfornewcrimes,whichgovernmentsarealwayspreparingbymaintainingdisciplinedarmies。
  Theageofvenerationforgovernments,notwithstandingallthehypnoticinfluencetheyemploytomaintaintheirposition,ismoreandmorepassingaway。Anditistimeforpeopletounderstandthatgovernmentsnotonlyarenotnecessary,butareharmfulandmosthighlyimmoralinstitutions,inwhichaself—respecting,honestmancannotandmustnottakepart,andtheadvantagesofwhichhecannotandshouldnotenjoy。
  Andassoonaspeopleclearlyunderstandthat,theywillnaturallyceasetotakepartinsuchdeeds—thatis,ceasetogivethegovernmentssoldiersandmoney。Andassoonasamajorityofpeopleceasestodothisthefraudwhichenslavespeoplewillbeabolished。Onlyinthiswaycanpeoplebefreedfromslavery。*TheCossackleaderofaformidableinsyirrectioninthelatterhalfoftheseventeenthcentury。—Trans。
  **ThechiefofaParisbandofrobbersintheearlyyearsoftheeighteenthcentury。—Trans。TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Ch15——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyCHAPTERXV。
  WHATSHOULDEACHMANDO?
  "BUTallthesearegeneralconsiderations,andwhethertheyarecorrectornot,theyareinapplicabletolife,"willbetheremarkmadebypeopleaccustomedtotheirposition,andwhodonotconsideritpossible,orwhodonotwish,tochangeit。
  "Telluswhattodo,andhowtoorganisesociety,"iswhatpeopleofthewell—to—doclassesusuallysay。
  Peopleofthewell—to—doclassesaresoaccustomedtotheirroleofslaveownersthatwhenthereistalkofimprovingtheworkers’condition,theyatoncebegin,likeourserfownersbeforetheemancipation,todeviseallsortsofplansfortheirslaves;butitneveroccurstothemthattheyhavenorighttodisposeofotherpeople,andthatiftheyreallywishtodogoodtopeople,theonethingtheycanandshoulddoistoceasetodotheeviltheyarenowdoing。Andtheeviltheydoisverydefiniteandclear。Itisnotmerelythattheyemploycompulsoryslavelabour,anddonotwishtoceasefromemployingit,butthattheyalsotakepartinestablishingandmaintainingthiscorn—
  pulsionoflabour。Thatiswhattheyshouldceasetodo。
  Theworkingpeoplearealsosopervertedbytheircompulsoryslaverythatitseemstomostofthemthatiftheirpositionisabadone,itisthefaultofthemasters,whopaythemtoolittleandwhoowntIlemeansofproduction。
  Itdoesnotentertheirheadsthattheirbadpositiondependsentirelyonthemselves,andthatifonlytheywishtoimprovetheirownandtheirbrothers’positions,andnotmerelyeachtodothebesthecanforhimself,thegreatthingforthemtodoisthemselvestoceasetodoevil。Andtheevilthattheydoisthat,desiringtoimprovetheirmaterialpositionbythesamemeanswhichhavebroughtthemintobondage,theworkers(forthesakeofsatisfyingthehabitstheyhaveadopted),sacrificingtheirhumandignityandfreedom,accepthumiliatingandimmoralemploymentorproduceunnecessaryandharmfularticles,and,aboveall,theymaintaingovernments,takingpartinthembypayingtaxesandbydirectservice,andthustheyenslavethemselves。
  Inorderthatthestateofthingsmaybeimproved,boththewell—to—doclassesandtheworkersmustunderstandthatimprovementcannotbeeffectedbysafeguardingone’sowninterests。Serviceinvolvessacrifice,and,therefore,ifpeoplereallywishtoimprovethepositionoftheirbrothermen,andnotmerelytheirown,theymustbereadynotonlytoalterthewayoflifetowhichtheyareaccustomed,andtolosethoseadvantageswhichtheyhaveheld,buttheymustbereadyforanintensestruggle,notagainstgovernments,butagainstthemselvesandtheirfamilies,andmustbereadytosufferpersecutionfornon—fulfilmentofthedemandsofgovernment。
  And,therefore,thereplytothequestion,Whatisitwemustdo?isverysimple,andnotmerelydefinite,butalwaysinthehighestdegreeapplicableandpracticableforeachman,thoughitisnotwhatisexpectedbythosewho,likepeopleofthewell—to—doclasses,arefullyconvincedthattheyareappointedtocorrectnotthemselves(theyarealreadygood),buttoteachandcorrectotherpeople;andbythosewho,liketheworkmen,aresurethatnotthey(butonlythecapitalists)areinfaultfortheirpresentbadposition,andthinkthatthingscanonlybeputrightbytakingfromthecapitaliststhethingstheyuse,andarrangingsothatallmightmakeuseofthoseconveniencesoflifewhicharenowonlyusedbytherich。Theanswerisverydefinite,applicable,andpracticable,foritdemandstheactivityofthatonepersonoverwhomeachofushasreal,rightful,andunquestionablepower—namely,one’sself—anditconsistsinthis,thatifaman,whetherslaveorslaveowner,reallywishestobetternothispositionalone,butthepositionofpeopleingeneral,hemustnothimselfdothosewrongthingswhichenslavehimandhisbrothers。
  Andinordernottodotheevilwhichproducesmiseryforhimselfandforhisbrothers,heshould,firstofall,neitherwillinglynorundercompulsiontakeanypartingovernmentalactivity,andshould,therefore,beneitherasoldier,norafield—marshal,noraministerofstate,norataxcollector,norawitness,noranalderman,norajuryman,noragovernor,noramemberofParliament,nor,infact,holdanyofficeconnectedwithviolence。Thatisonething。
  Secondly,suchamanshouldnotvoluntarilypaytaxestogovernments,eitherdirectlyorindirectly;norshouldheacceptmoneycollectedbytaxes,eitherassalary,oraspension,orasareward;norshouldhemakeuseofgovernmentalinstititutions,supportedbytaxescollectedbyviolencefromthepeople。Thatisthesecondthing。
  Thirdly,amanwhodesiresnottopromotehisownwell—beingalone,buttobetterthepositionofpeopleingeneral,shouldnotappealtogovernmentalviolencefortheprotectionofhisownpossessionsinlandorinotherthings,nortodefendhimandhisnearones;butshouldonlypossesslandandallproductsofhisownorotherpeople’stoilinsofarasothersdonotclaimthemfromhim。
  Butsuchanactivityisimpossible;torefuseallparticipationingovernmentalaffairsmeanstorefusetolive,iswhatpeoplewillsay。A
  manwhorefusesmilitaryservicewillbeimprisoned;amanwhodoesnotpaytaxeswillbepunishedandthetaxwillbecollectedfromhisproperty;amanwho,havingnoothermeansofliveliliood,refusesgovernmentservice,willperishofhungerwithhisfamily;thesamewillbefallamanwhorejectsgovern—
  mentalprotectionforhispropertyandhisperson;nottomakeuseofthingsthataretaxedorofgovernmentinstitutions,isquiteimpossible,asthemostnecessaryarticlesareoftentaxed;andjustinthesamewayitisimpossibletodowithoutgovernmentinstitutions,suchasthepost,theroads,etc。
  Itisquitetruethatitisdifficultforamanofourtimestostandasidefromallparticipationingovernmentalviolence。Butthefactthatnoteveryonecansoarrangehislifeasnottoparticipateinsomedegreeingovernmentalviolencedoesnotatallshowthatitisnotpossibletofreeone’sselffromitmoreandmore。Noteverymanwillhavethestrengthtorefuseconscription(thoughthereareandwillbesuchmen),buteachmancanabstainfromvoluntarilyenteringthearmy,thepoliceforce,andthejudicialorrevenueservice;andcangivethepreferencetoaworsepaidprivateserviceratherthantoabetterpaidpublicservice。Noteverymanwillhavethestrengthtorenouncehislandedestates(thoughtherearepeoplewhodothat),buteverymancan,understandingthewrongfulnessofsuchproperty,diminishitsextent。Noteverymancanrenouncethepossessionofcapital(therearesomewhodo)ortheuseofarticlesdefendedbyviolence,buteachmancan,bydiminishinghisownrequirements,belessandlessinneedofarticleswhichprovokeotherpeopletoenvy。
  Noteveryoffcialcanrenouncehisgovernmentsalary(thoughtherearemenwhopreferhungertodishonestgovernmentalemployment),buteveryonecanpreferasmallersalarytoalargeroneforthesakeofhavingdutieslessboundupwithviolence;noteveryonecanrefusetomakeuseofgovernmentschools(althoughtherearesomewhodo),buteveryonecangivethepreferencetoprivateschools,andeachcanmakelessandlessuseofarticlesthataretaxed,andofgoverernmentinstitutions。
  Betweentheexistingorder,basedonbruteforce,andtheidealofasocietybasedonreasonableagreementconfirniedbycustom,thereareaninfinitenumberofsteps,whichmankindareascending,andtheapproachtotheidealisonlyaccomplishedtotheextenttowhichpeoplefreethemselvesfromparticipationinviolence,fromtakingadvantageofit,andfrombeingaccustomedtoit。
  Wedonotknowandcannotsee,stillless,likethepseudo—scientificmen,foretell,inwhatwaythisgradualweakeningofgovernmentsandemancipationofpeoplewillcomeabout;
  nordoweknowwhatnewformsman’slifewilltakeasthegradualemancipationprogresses,butwecertainlydoknowthatthelifeofpeoplewho,havingunderstoodthecriminalityandharmfulnessoftheactivityofgovernments,strivenottomakeuseofthem,ortotakepartinthem,willbequitedifferentandmoreinaccordwiththelawoflifeandourownconsciencesthanthepresentlife,inwhichpeoplethemselvesparticipatingingovernmentalviolenceandtakingadvantageofit,makeapretenceofstrugglingagainstit,andtrytodestroytheoldviolencebynewviolence。
  Thechiefthingisthatthepresentarrangementoflifeisbad;aboutthatallareagreed。
  Thecauseofthebadconditionsandoftheexistingslaveryliesintheviolenceusedbygovernments。Thereisonlyonewaytoabolishgovernmentalviolence:thatpeopleshouldabstainfromparticipatinginviolence。And,therefore,whetheritbedifficultornot,toabstainfromparticipatingingovernmentalviolence,andwhetherthegoodresultsofsuchabstinencewillorwillnotbesoonapparent,aresuperfluousquestions;becausetoliberatepeoplefromslaverythereisonlythatoneway,andnoother!
  Towhatextentandwhenvoluntaryagreement,confirmedbycustom,willreplaceviolenceineachsocietyandinthewholeworldwilldependonthestrengthandclearnessofpeople’sconsciousnessandonthenumberofindividualswhomakethisconsciousnesstheirown。Eachofusisaseparateperson,andeachcanbeaparticipatorinthegeneralmovementofhumanitybyhisgreaterorlesserclearnessofrecognitionoftheaimbeforeus,orhecanbeanopponentofprogress。Eachwillhavetomakehischoice:toopposethewillofGod,buildinguponthesandstheunstablehouseofhisbrief,illusivelife,ortojoinintheeternal,deathlessmovementoftruelifeinaccordancewithGod’swill。
  ButperhapsIammistaken,andtherightconclusionstodrawfromhumanhistoryarethese,andthehumanraceisnotmovingtowardemancipationfromslavery;perhapsitcanbeprovedthatviolenceisaneedfulfactorofprogress,andthatthestate,withitsviolence,isanecessaryformoflife,andthatitwillbeworseforpeopleifgovernmentsareabolishedandifthedefenceofourpersonsandpropertyisaholished。
  Letusgrantittobeso,andsaythatalltheforegoingreasoningiswrong;butbesidesthegeneralconsiderationsaboutthelifeofhumanity,eachmanhasalsotofacethequestionofhisownlife;andnotwithstandinganyconsiderationsaboutthegenerallawsoflife,amancannotdowhatlieadmitstobenotmerelyharmful,butwrong。
  "Verypossiblythereasoningsshowingthestatetobeanecessaryformofthedevelopmentoftheindividual,andgovernmentalviolencetobenecessaryforthegoodofSociety,canallbededucedfromhistory,andareallcorrect,"
  eachhonestandsinceremanofourtimeswillreply;"butmurderisanevil,thatIknowmorecertainlythananyreasonings;byde—
  mandingthatIshouldenterthearmyorpayforhiringandequippingsoldiers,orforbuyingcannonsandbuildingironclads,youwishtomakemeanaccompliceinnnirder,andthatIcannotandwillnotbe。NeitherdoIwish,norcanI,makeuseofmoneyyouhavecollectedfromhungrypeoplewiththreatsofmurder;nordoIwishtomakeuseoflandorcapitaldefendedbyyou,becauseIknowthatyourdefencerestsonmurder。
  "IcoulddothesethingswhenIdidnotunderstandalltheircriminality,butwhenI
  haveonceseenit,Icannotavoidseeingit,andcannolongertakepartinthesethings。
  "Iknowthatweareallsoboundupbyviolencethatitisdifficulttoavoiditaltogether,butIwill,neverthless,doallIcannottotakepartinit;Iwillnotbeanaccomplicetoit,andwilltrynottomakeuseofwhatisobtainedanddefendedbymurder。
  "Ihavebutonelife,andwhyshouldI,inthisbrieflifeofmine,actcontrarytothevoiceofconscienceandbecomeapartnerinyourabominabledeeds?
  "Icannot,andIwillnot。
  "Andwhatwillcomeofthis?Idonotknow。OnlyIthinknoharmcanresultfromactingasmyconsciencedemands。"
  Soinourtimeshouldeachhonestandsinceremanreplytoalltheargumentsaboutthenecessityofgovernmentsandofviolence,andtoeverydemandorinvitationtotakepartinthem。
  Sothatthesupremeandunimpeachablejudge—thevoiceofconscience—confirmstoeachmantheconclusiontowhichalsogeneralreasoningshouldbringus。TheSlaveryofOurTimes——Afterword——LeoTolstoyFromTheSlaveryofOurTimesbyLeoTolstoyANAFTERWORD
  Butthisisagainthesameoldsermon:ontheonehand,urgingthedestructionofthepresentorderofthingswithoutputtinganythinginitsplace;ontheotherhand,exhortingtonon—action,iswhatmanywillsayonreadingwhatIhavewritten。"Governmentalactionisbad,soistheactionofthelandownerandofthemanofbusiness;equallybadistheactivityoftheSocialistandoftherevolutionaryAnarchists—thatistosay,allreal,practicalactivitiesarebad,andonlysomesortofmoral,spiritual,indefiniteactivitywhichbringseverythingtoutterchaosandinactionisgood。"ThusIknowmanyseriousandsincerepeoplewillthinkandspeak!
  Whatseemstopeoplemostdisturbingintheideaofnoviolenceisthatpropertywillnotbeprotected,andthateachmanwill,therefore,beabletotakefromanotherwhatheneedsormerelylikes,andtogounpunished。Topeopleaccustomedtothedefenceofpropertyandpersonbyviolenceitseemsthatwithoutsuchdefencetherewillbeperpetualdisorder,aconstantstruggleofeveryoneagainsteveryoneelse。
  IwillnotrepeatwhatIhavesaidelsewheretoshowthatthedefenceofpropertybyviolencedoesnotlessen,butincreases,thisdisorder。Butallowingthatintheabsenceofdefencedisordermayoccur,whatarepeopletodowhohaveunderstoodthecauseofthecalamitiesfromwhichtheyaresuffering?
  Ifwehaveunderstoodthatweareillfromdrunkenness,wemustcontinuetodrink,hopingtomendmattersbydrinkingmoderately,orcontinuedrinkingandtakemedicinesthatshortsighteddoctorsgiveus。
  Anditisthesamewithoursocialsickness。Ifwehaveunderstoodthatweareillbecausesomepeopleuseviolencetoothers,itisimpossibletoimprovethepositionofsocietyeitherbycontinuingtosupportthegovernmentalviolencethatexists,orbyintroducingafreshkindofrevolutionaryorsocialistviolence。Thatmighthavebeendoneaslongasthefundamentalcauseofpeople’smiserywasnotclearlyseen。Butassoonasithasbecomeindubitablyclearthatpeoplesufferfromtheviolencedonebysometoothers,itisalreadyimpossibletoimprovethepositionbycontinuingtheoldviolenceorbyintroducinganewkind。Thesickmansufferingfromalcoholismhasbutonewaytobecured:byrefrainingfromintoxicantswhicharethecauseofhisillness;sothereisonlyonewaytofreemenfromtheevilarrangementofsociety—thatis,torefrainfromviolence—thecauseofthesuffering—frompersonalviolence,frompreachingviolence,andfrominanywayjustifyingviolence。
  Andnotonlyisthisthesolemeanstodeliverpeoplefromtheirills,butwemustalsoadoptitbecauseitcoincideswiththemoralconsciousnessofeachindividualmanofourtimes。Ifamanofourdayhasonceunderstoodthateverydefenceofpropertyorpersonbyviolenceisobtainedonlybythreateningtomurderorbymurdering,hecannolongerwithaquietconsciencemakeuseofthatwhichisobtainedbymurderorbythreatsofmurder,andstilllesscanhetakepartinthemurdersorinthreateningtomurder。Sothatwhatiswantedtofreepeoplefromtheirmiseryisalsoneededforthesatisfactionofthemoralconsciousnessofeveryindividual。And,therefore,foreachindividualtherecanbenodoubtthatbothforthegeneralgoodandtofulfilthelawofhislifehemusttakenopartinviolence,norjustifyit,normakeuseofit。