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3
Introduction
Ch. Beginning
(3
Unfortunately what it is
interest of men at large to
possess, it is interest of an influential
class they should
not possess
Unfortunately for men at large, unfortunately in particular
for those among whom readers for this little work can be expected looked for
whatsoever knowledge on this subject it is their interest to be
possessed of, here is/it is the interest of another, and that a most powerful
and influential class that they should not be possessed
of: the welfare and comfort of the relatively knowing learned, being
in the exactly opposite proportion, as with say
the inverse ratio of that of the relative ignorant.
This they will can not deny:
to escape from the consequences
they may say — I am to
sacrifice mine to general
interest — on this occasion.
Of the mention of this particular fraternity, no one, can with
any likeable prospect of being creditor, joined with a species so called give to their
assistance a denial: towards escaping from the practical consequence so
naturally not to say necessarily recently flowing from it, all he can
do is — to say true — but we are of if this be his need to say
I, am on this occasion content to make a sacrifice of
the particular interest in question to the general and more
extensive interest.
By quantity of influence
that conduct of all bodies
is determined — this will
always be according to the interest of
such bodies.
It is by the majority in number and value, that is to
say quantity of influence possessed, that the conduct of all bodies of men
has at all times and places been, and such is the nature of
men, will be determined: the interest to which the conduct of
the majority will is be determined will has therefore at all times,
been, and at all times will be determined.
So to with this body unless
this nature changed.
As in the case of every b other body of men, so in
the case of this: useless, to the extent of such majority, there is be
something in their body by which, in the particular and to the effect in question
man is made to change his nature.
Perhaps one in 1000 ready
to make the sacrifice or
1 in 5 or 3 — the practical
result wd be the same.
In the instance breast of the out of a thousand perhaps, to
a certain degree, provided always it be but a very large degree, there
may be a desperation to want to sacrifice of his particular interest
to a general interest: but in the general result, by any such
proposition could any change be effectual? If instead of one in a thousand
we were to say, 1 in 100, 1 in 10, 1 in 5? as though it were no more as many
than as two out of three — even in this case would the practical result be changed? The answer is too
obvious to bear mentioning.
Identifier: | JB/031/108/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 31.
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1828-08-31 |
not numbered |
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031 |
civil code |
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108 |
blackstone |
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001 |
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text sheet |
1 |
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recto |
d3 / e3 |
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jeremy bentham |
b&m 1828 |
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arthur moore; richard doane |
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1828 |
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9794 |
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