"Chesterton, G.K. - Usurers and other Essays" - читать интересную книгу автора (Chesterton G.K)

In every serious doctrine of the destiny of men, there is some trace of
the doctrine of the equality of men. But the capitalist really depends on
some religion of inequality. The capitalist must somehow distinguish
himself from human kind; he must be obviously above it--or he would be
obviously below it. Take even the least attractive and popular side of
the larger religions to-day; take the mere vetoes imposed by Islam on
Atheism or Catholicism. The Moslem veto upon intoxicants cuts across all
classes. But it is absolutely necessary for the capitalist (who presides
at a Licensing Committee, and also at a large dinner), it is absolutely
necessary for him, to make a distinction between gin and champagne. The
Atheist veto upon all miracles cuts across all classes. But it is
absolutely necessary for the capitalist to make a distinction between his
wife (who is an aristocrat and consults crystal gazers and star gazers in
the West End), and vulgar miracles claimed by gipsies or travelling
showmen. The Catholic veto upon usury, as defined in dogmatic councils,
cuts across all classes. But it is absolutely necessary to the capitalist
to distinguish more delicately between two kinds of usury; the kind he
finds useful and the kind he does not find useful. The religion of the
Servile State must have no dogmas or definitions. It cannot afford to
have any definitions. For definitions are very dreadful things: they do
the two things that most men, especially comfortable men, cannot endure.
They fight; and they fight fair.

Every religion, apart from open devil worship, must appeal to a virtue or
the pretence of a virtue. But a virtue, generally speaking, does some
good to everybody. It is therefore necessary to distinguish among the
people it was meant to benefit those whom it does benefit. Modern
broad-mindedness benefits the rich; and benefits nobody else. It was
meant to benefit the rich; and meant to benefit nobody else. And if you
think this unwarranted, I will put before you one plain question. There
are some pleasures of the poor that may also mean profits for the rich:
there are other pleasures of the poor which cannot mean profits for the
rich? Watch this one contrast, and you will watch the whole creation of a
careful slavery.

In the last resort the two things called Beer and Soap end only in a froth.
They are both below the high notice of a real religion. But there is
just this difference: that the soap makes the factory more satisfactory,
while the beer only makes the workman more satisfied. Wait and see if
the Soap does not increase and the Beer decrease. Wait and see whether
the religion of the Servile State is not in every case what I say: the
encouragement of small virtues supporting capitalism, the discouragement
of the huge virtues that defy it. Many great religions, Pagan and
Christian, have insisted on wine. Only one, I think, has insisted on Soap.
You will find it in the New Testament attributed to the Pharisees.



VI. SCIENCE AND THE EUGENISTS