 said I, »there is a third possibility - to wit, that every man
should be quite independent of every other, and that thus the tyranny of society
should be abolished.«
    He looked hard at me for a second or two, and then burst out laughing very
heartily; and I confess that I joined him. When he recovered himself he nodded
at me, and said: »Yes, yes, I quite agree with you - and so we all do.«
    »Yes,« I said, »and besides, it does not press hardly on the minority: for,
take this matter of the bridge, no man is obliged to work on it if he doesn't
agree to its building. At least, I suppose not.«
    He smiled, and said: »Shrewdly put; and yet from the point of view of the
native of another planet. If the man of the minority does find his feelings
hurt, doubtless he may relieve them by refusing to help in building the bridge.
But, dear neighbour, that is not a very effective salve for the wound caused by
the tyranny of a majority in our society; because all work that is done is
either beneficial or hurtful to every member of society. The man is benefited by
the bridge-building if it turns out a good thing, and hurt by it if it turns out
a bad one, whether he puts a hand to it or not; and meanwhile he is benefiting
the bridge-builders by his work, whatever that may be. In fact, I see no help
for him except the pleasure of saying I told you so if the bridge-building turns
out to be a mistake and hurts him; if it benefits him he must suffer in silence.
A terrible tyranny our Communism, is it not? Folk used often to be warned
against this very unhappiness in times past, when for every well-fed, contented
person you saw a thousand miserable starvelings. Whereas for us, we grow fat and
well-liking on the tyranny; a tyranny, to say the truth, not to be made visible
by any microscope I know. Don't be afraid, my friend; we are not going to seek
for troubles by calling our peace and plenty and happiness by ill names whose
very meaning we have forgotten!«
    He sat musing for a little, and then started and said: »Are there any more
questions, dear guest? The morning is waning fast amidst my garrulity.«
 

                                   Chapter XV

                                        

           On the Lack of Incentive to Labour in a Communist Society

»Yes,
