any one or more of the numerous precautions taken would have done much
good; but my object was to establish my laws on so broad a foundation
that no adverse gale could shake the edifice,--that the laws should be
strengthened one by the other, that every one should be interested in
observing and supporting institutions under which he enjoyed the largest
amount of happiness, and that, strange and visionary as it may seem to
you, the necessity for punishment might be diminished, and eventually
removed.

I should have as little thought of erecting the tall and graceful but
huge Mountain Supporter without a broad and solid foundation as of
establishing my laws, all tending as they did to the perfectibility and
happiness of the people, without spreading their base in all directions,
and taking care that the human instrument through which the soul acts
was fortified and prepared to respond to its noble ends.

I had early perceived that to obtain the desired end, every particular
must be studied and provided for, so that all elements of enduring
success should be united, and all obstructive elements removed. I felt
that no effort, care, or thought would be too great if it would only
produce the desired results, by securing health, beauty, intelligence,
and long life in man, to the utmost extent that nature permitted.

I felt that the boon of long life would greatly lose its value, even if
it could have been otherwise obtained, unless man's forces were
economized, and the senses and faculties preserved in health and vigour
to the last; that without these the happiness of man in every stage, and
even his obedience to my laws, and my power to dispense with
punishments, would be greatly impaired. For I had observed that the
sufferings and degeneracy of the man would make him discontented,
restless, and miserable, notwithstanding the blessings with which
Providence had surrounded him.

Discontented men--and discontent and wickedness are not far apart--would
have used the new powers for their own wicked purposes, just as formerly
they rent the veil that concealed from the uninitiated the secrets of
powers in nature; having been admitted under the guise, or rather while
in temporary possession of all the great qualities of will, undaunted
courage, energy, and perseverance.

Had I not reflected on this danger, I should only have allowed numbers
of persons to receive an education which, neglecting the paramount
principle of eradic