54 Morality and Efficiency 



efficient. It is only by mingling on equal terms with 

 such men, by showing them that one is able to give 

 and to receive heavy punishment without flinching, 

 and that one can master the details of political man- 

 agement as well as they can, that it is possible for a 

 man to establish a standing that will be useful to 

 him in fighting for a great reform. Every man who 

 wishes well to his country is in honor bound to take 

 an active part in political life. If he does his duty 

 and takes that active part he will be sure occa- 

 sionally to commit mistakes and to be guilty of 

 shortcomings. For these mistakes and shortcomings 

 he will receive the unmeasured denunciation of the 

 critics who commit neither because they never do 

 anything but criticise. Nevertheless he will have 

 the satisfaction of knowing that the salvation of 

 the country ultimately lies, not in the hands of his 

 critics, but in the hands of those who, however im- 

 perfectly, actually do the work of the nation. I 

 would not for one moment be understood as ob- 

 jecting to criticism or failing to appreciate its im- 

 portance. We need fearless criticism of our public 

 men and public parties; we need unsparing con- 

 demnation of all persons and all principles that 

 count for evil in our public life: but it behooves 

 every man to remember that the work of the critic, 

 important though it is, is of altogether secondary 

 importance, and that, in the end, progress is ac- 

 complished by the man who does the things, and not 

 by the man who talks about how they ought or 

 ought not to be done. 



