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meant to be in vain。 For no human actions ever were intended by
the maker of men to be guided by balances of expediency； but by
balances of justice。 He has therefore rendered all endeavours to
determine expediency futile for evermore。 No man ever knew； or
can know； what will be the ultimate result to himself； or to
others； of any given line of conduct。 But every man may know； and
most of us do know； what is a just and unjust act。 And all of us
may know also； that the consequences of justice will be
ultimately the best possible； both to others and ourselves；
though we can neither say what is best； or how it is likely to
come to pass。
I have said balances of justice； meaning； in the term
justice； to include affection； such affection as one man owes
to another。 All right relations between master and operative； and
all their best interests； ultimately depend on these。
We shall find the best and simplest illustration of the
relations of master and operative in the position of domestic
servants。
We will suppose that the master of a household desires only
to get as much work out of his servants as he can； at the rate of
wages he gives。 He never allows them to be idle； feeds them as
poorly and lodges them as ill as they will endure； and in all
things pushes his requirements to the exact point beyond which he
cannot go without forcing the servant to leave him。 In doing
this； there is no violation on his part of what is commonly
called 〃justice。〃 He agrees with the domestic for his whole time
ad service； and takes them； the limits of hardship in
treatment being fixed by the practice of other masters in his
neighbourhood； that is to say； by the current rate of wages for
domestic labour。 If the servant can get a better place； he is
free to take one； and the master can only tell what is the real
market value of his labour； by requiring as much as he will give。
This is the politico…economical view of the case； according
to the doctors of that science； who assert that by this procedure
the greatest average of work will be obtained from the servant；
and therefore the greatest benefit to the community； and through
the community； by reversion； to the servant himself。
That； however； is not so。 It would be so if the servant were
an engine of which the motive power was steam； magnetism；
gravitation； or any other agent of calculable force。 But he
being； on the contrary； an engine whose motive power is a Soul；
the force of this very peculiar agent； as an unknown quantity；
enters into all the political economist's equations； without his
knowledge； and falsifies every one of their results。 The largest
quantity of work will not be done by this curious engine for pay；
or under pressure； or by help of any kind of fuel which may be
supplied by the caldron。 It will be done only when the motive
force； that is to say； the will or spirit of the creature； is
brought to its greatest strength by its own proper fuel： namely；
by the affections。
It may indeed happen； and does happen often； that if the
master is a man of sense ad energy； a large quantity of material
work may be done under mechanical pressure； enforced by strong
will and guided by wise method； also it may happen； and does
happen often； that if the master is indolent and weak （however
good…natured）； a very small quantity of work； and that bad； may
be produced by the servant's undirected strength； and
contemptuous gratitude。 But the universal law of the matter is
that； assuming any given quantity of energy and sense in master
and servant； the greatest material result obtainable by them will
be； not through antagonism to each other； but through affection
for each other； and that if the master； instead of endeavouring
to get as much work as possible from the servant； seeks rather to
render his appointed and necessary work beneficial to him； and to
forward his interests in all just and wholesome ways； the real
amount of work ultimately done； or of good rendered； by the
person so cared for； will indeed be the greatest possible。
Observe； I say； 〃of good rendered；〃 for a servant's work is
not necessarily or always the best thing he can give his master。
But good of all kinds； whether in material service； in protective
watchfulness of his master's interest and credit； or in joyful
readiness to seize unexpected and irregular occasions of help。
Nor is this one whit less generally true because indulgence
will be frequently abused； and kindness met with ingratitude。 For
the servant who； gently treated； is ungrateful； treated ungently；
will be revengeful； and the man who is dishonest to a liberal
master will be injurious to an unjust one。
In any case； and with any person； this unselfish treatment
will produce the most effective return。 Observe； I am here
considering the affections wholly as a motive power； not at all
as things in themselves desirable or noble； or in any other way
abstractedly good。 I look at them simply as an anomalous force；
rendering every one of the ordinary political economist's
calculations nugatory； while； even if he desired to introduce
this new element into his estimates； he has no power of dealing
with it； for the affections only become a true motive power when
they ignore every other motive and condition of political
economy。 Treat the servant kindly； with the idea of turning his
gratitude to account； and you will get； as you deserve； no
gratitude； nor any value for your kindness； but treat him kindly
without any economical purpose； and all economical purposes will
be answered； in this； as in all other matters； whosoever will
save his life shall lose it； whoso loses it shall find it。（1*）
The next clearest and simplest example of relation between
master and operative is that which exists between the commander
of a regiment and his men。
Supposing the officer only desires to apply the rules of
discipline so as； with least trouble to himself； to make the
regiment most effective； he will not be able； by any rules or
administration of rules； on this selfish principle； to develop
the full strength of his subordinates。 If a man of sense and
firmness； he may； as in the former instance； produce a better
result than would be obtained by the irregular kindness of a weak
officer； but let the sense and firmness be the same in both
cases； and assuredly the officer who has the most direct personal
relations with his men； the most care for their interests； and
the most value for their lives； will develop their effective
str