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115
There is an instrument of tyranny, – & consequent source of
annoyance – against whose instrusions it is most desirable to find
protection. It is that of imprudent interrogation. It assumes
various shapes – and sometimes produces evil of no
inconsiderable amount. The powers of annoyance vary with the
situation of the person who asks the question as compared or
contrasted with that of him who is expected to answer it – they
vary with the topic which is put forward, – & with the times
or occasions on which it is introduced. Where an individual
in a superior situation asks a question of an inferior, which
that inferior is known to be unwilling to answer, – what is
the question but the interference of despotism on the part of
the questioner, – & what to the party questioned but a sor cause of
suffering, – and of mendacity – self-preservative mendacity. When
George the a monarch: inquired of a novellist in the presence of others whether he was the
author of certain novels works whose authorship he knew was intended
to be kept a profoundsecret – the interrogation was a piece of an
exhibition of despotism tyranny – a lie-compelling despotism tyranny.
But to avoid collision – prudence requires, not
that the intrusion of offensive questionings should be met with
offensive answers, but rather that they should be turned aside by
good-humored management. "What a question !" – "You are not
serious, surely." "Thereby hangs a tall" not to be told & so with
a facetious quotation – the singing a line of a ballad – an
appropriate look – a gesture – may relieve the mind of
its embarrasment – & prevent the mischiefs of imprudence.
It is scarcely possible to provide for old formulas for every situation condition in life,
– but the broad line of Deontological line is sufficiently
obvious.
Identifier: | JB/015/430/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
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recto |
f115 |
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sir john bowring |
[[watermarks::[top of shell motif]]] |
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p. d. handyside |
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5646 |
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