positively mean to assert about the
pleasurableness of work amongst you?«
    »This, that all work is now pleasurable; either because of the hope of gain
in honour and wealth with which the work is done, which causes pleasurable
excitement, even when the actual work is not pleasant; or else because it has
grown into a pleasurable habit, in the case with what you may call mechanical
work; and lastly (and most of our work is of this kind) because there is
conscious sensuous pleasure in the work itself; it is done, that is, by
artists.«
    »I see,« said I. »Can you now tell me how you have come to this happy
condition? For, to speak plainly, this change from the conditions of the older
world seems to me far greater and more important than all the other changes you
have told me about as to crime, politics, property, marriage.«
    »You are right there,« said he. »Indeed, you may say rather that it is this
change which makes all the others possible. What is the object of Revolution?
Surely to make people happy. Revolution having brought its foredoomed change
about, how can you prevent the counter-revolution from setting in except by
making people happy? What! shall we expect peace and stability from unhappiness?
The gathering of grapes from thorns and figs from thistles is a reasonable
expectation compared with that! And happiness without happy daily work is
impossible.«
    »Most obviously true,« said I: for I thought the old boy was preaching a
little. »But answer my question, as to how you gained this happiness.«
    »Briefly,« said he, »by the absence of artificial coercion, and the freedom
for every man to do what he can do best, joined to the knowledge of what
productions of labour we really want. I must admit that this knowledge we
reached slowly and painfully.«
    »Go on,« said I, »give me more detail; explain more fully. For this subject
interests me intensely.«
    »Yes, I will,« said he; »but in order to do so I must weary you by talking a
little about the past. Contrast is necessary for this explanation. Do you mind?«
    »No, no,« said I.
    Said he, settling himself in his chair again for a long talk: »It is clear
from all that we hear and read, that in the last age of civilisation men had got
into a vicious circle in the matter of production of wares. They