Woman's mission.

Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Woman's mission. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    leaves and blossoms, but the seat of vitality is poisoned; it perishes in spite of his care. Political theorists expect moral results from the -amendment of political institutions; whereas it is obvious that such improvements are the effect, and not the cause, of the moral progress of the governed. Men must have virtue enough to desire good insti- tutions before they will exert themselves to attain them. It is not denied that good institutions (so desired and obtained) are beneficial; but as a reaction, not as a primary agent. The attempt to force good institutions on men unable to appreciate their value, produces effects not advantageous,-but highly injurious. Political economists expect moral results from external prosperity ; confounding prosperity with happiness, and thinking that happiness induces goodness, they labour to remove obstacles to ex- ternal prosperity. It is right, it is benevolent, so to do; and good results follow, but the results which they expect will not follow. They have taken up a false position. [“ When society takes for its ultimate object the physical well-being of the community, it makes men active, ardent, restless, enemies of each other, insatiable in the pursuit of riches and pleasure, — not better, or happier*.”] Aim^ Mai’tin.