1 66 ARISTOCRA C Y AND E VOL UTION 



Book ii with regard to the apportionment of the means of 

 subsistence, the only "truly socialistic" scheme is 

 one which would " absolutely abolish" all economic 

 distinctions, " and the possibility of their again 

 arising, by making an equal provision for the 

 maintenance of all an incident and an indefeasible 

 condition of citizenship, without any regard whatever 

 to the relative specific services of different citizens. 

 For they would The rendering of such services, on the other hand, 

 instead of being left to the option of the citizen, with 

 the alternative of starvation, would be required under 

 one uniform law or civic duty, precisely like other 

 forms of taxation or military service." 



Such, then, is the most advanced socialistic pro- 

 gramme the programme of the men who have set 

 themselves to devise an escape from capitalism. 

 An escape from capitalism it may be ; but it is an 

 escape into complete slavery. For the very essence 

 of the position of the slave, as contrasted with 

 not through the wage-labourer, so far as the direction of his 

 orodesire to productive actions is concerned, is that he has 

 earn his imng. not to wor k as he is bidden in order to gain 



And this is the 



essence of his livelihood, but that, his livelihood being assured 



sis. very 



to him, he has to work as he is bidden in order that 

 he may avoid the lash, or some other form of 

 punishment ; and amongst all the more thoughtful 

 socialists there is now a consensus of admission that 

 the socialistic State would necessarily have in reserve 

 the severest pains and penalties for the idle and the 

 careless and the disobedient. 



Since, then let us once more repeat it the 



