3Itisimpossiblethatalltheseremonstrancesandreproofsshouldnotaffectme，andIshalltrymyverybest，incompletingmydesignandinspeakingoflightasoneofthecharactersofperfection，andofcultureasgivinguslight，toprofitbytheobjectionsIhaveheardandread，andtodriveatpracticeasmuchasIcan，byshowingthecommunicationsandpassagesintopracticallifefromthedoctrinewhichIaminculcating。
4Itissaidthatamanwithmytheoriesofsweetnessandlightisfullofantipathyagainsttherougherorcoarsermovementsgoingonaroundhim，thathewillnotlendahandtothehumbleoperationofuprootingevilbytheirmeans，andthatthereforethebelieversinactiongrowimpatientwithhim。Butwhatifroughandcoarseaction，ill—calculatedaction，actionwithinsufficientlight，is，andhasforalongtimebeen，ourbane？Whatifoururgentwantnowis，nottoactatanyprice，butrathertolayinastockoflightforourdifficulties？Inthatcase，torefusetolendahandtotherougherandcoarsermovementsgoingonroundus，tomaketheprimaryneed，bothforoneselfandothers，toconsistinenlighteningourselvesandqualifyingourselvestoactlessatrandom，issurelythebestandinrealtruththemostpracticallineourendeavourscantake。SothatifIcanshowwhatmyopponentscallroughorcoarseaction，butwhatIwouldrathercallrandomandill—regulatedaction，——actionwithinsufficientlight，actionpursuedbecauseweliketobedoingsomethinganddoingitasweplease，anddonotlikethetroubleofthinkingandthesevereconstraintofanykindofrule，——ifIcanshowthistobe，atthepresentmoment，apracticalmischiefanddangeroustous，thenIhavefoundapracticaluseforlightincorrectingthisstateofthings，andhaveonlytoexemplifyhow，incaseswhichfallundereverybody’sobservation，itmaydealwithit5WhenIbegantospeakofculture，Iinsistedonourbondagetomachinery，onourpronenesstovaluemachineryasanendinitself，withoutlookingbeyondittotheendforwhichalone，intruth，itisvaluable。Freedom，Isaid，wasoneofthosethingswhichwethusworshippedinitself，withoutenoughregardingtheendsforwhichfreedomistobedesired。Inourcommonnotionsandtalkaboutfreedom，weeminentlyshowouridolatryofmachinery。Ourprevalentnotionis，——andIquotedanumberofinstancestoproveit，——thatitisamosthappyandimportantthingforamanmerelytobeabletodoashelikes。Onwhatheistodowhenheisthusfreetodoashelikes，wedonotlaysomuchstress。OurfamiliarpraiseoftheBritishConstitutionunderwhichwelive，isthatitisasystemofchecks，——asystemwhichstopsandparalysesanypowerininterferingwiththefreeactionofindividuals。TothiseffectMr。
Bright，wholovestowalkintheoldwaysoftheConstitution，saidforciblyinoneofhisgreatspeeches，whatmanyotherpeopleareeverydaysayinglessforcibly，thatthecentralideaofEnglishlifeandpoliticsistheassertionofpersonalliberty。Evidentlythisisso；butevidently，also，asfeudalism，whichwithitsideasandhabitsofsubordinationwasformanycenturiessilentlybehindtheBritishConstitution，diesout，andweareleftwithnothingbutoursystemofchecks，andournotionofitsbeingthegreatrightandhappinessofanEnglishmantodoasfaraspossiblewhathelikes，weareindangerofdriftingtowardsanarchy。Wehavenotthenotion，sofamiliarontheContinentandtoantiquity，oftheState，——thenationinitscollectiveandcorporatecharacter，entrustedwithstringentpowersforthegeneraladvantage，andcontrollingindividualwillsinthenameofaninterestwiderthanthatofindividuals。
Wesay，whatisverytrue，thatthisnotionisoftenmadeinstrumentaltotyranny；wesaythataStateisinrealitymadeupoftheindividualswhocomposeit，andthateveryindividualisthebestjudgeofhisowninterests。Ourleadingclassisanaristocracy，andnoaristocracylikesthenotionofaState—authoritygreaterthanitself，withastringentadministrativemachinerysupersedingthedecorativeinutilitiesoflord—lieutenancy，deputy—lieutenancy，andthepossecomitatus，whichareallinitsownhands。Ourmiddleclass，thegreatrepresentativeoftradeandDissent，withitsmaximsofeverymanforhimselfinbusiness，everymanforhimselfinreligion，dreadsapowerfuladministrationwhichmightsomehowinterferewithit；andbesides，ithasitsowndecorativeinutilitiesofvestrymanshipandguardianship，whicharetothisclasswhatlord—lieutenancyandthecountymagistracyaretothearistocraticclass，andastringentadministrationmighteithertakethesefunctionsoutofitshands，orpreventitsexercisingtheminitsowncomfortable，independentmanner，asatpresent。
6Thenastoourworkingclass。Thisclass，pressedconstantlybytheharddailycompulsionofmaterialwants，isnaturallytheverycentreandstrongholdofournationalidea，thatitisman’sidealrightandfelicitytodoashelikes。IthinkIhavesomewhererelatedhowM。MicheletsaidtomeofthepeopleofFrance，thatitwas’anationofbarbarianscivilisedbytheconscription。’Hemeantthatthroughtheirmilitaryservicetheideaofpublicdutyandofdisciplinewasbroughttothemindofthesemasses，inotherrespectssorawanduncultivated。