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Ruskin, John, 1819-1900

"Being a Study of the Greek Myths of Cloud and Storm"


155. So, a Dean and Chapter may, perhaps, unjustifiably charge me
twopence for seeing a cathedral; but your free mob pulls spire and all
down about my ears, and I can see it no more forever. And even if I
cannot get up to the granite junctions in the glen, the stream comes down
from them pure to the Garry; but in Beddington Park I am stopped by the
newly-erected fence of a building speculator; and the bright Wandel,
divine of waters as Castaly, is filled by the free public with old shoes,
obscene crockery, and ashes.
156. In fine, the arguments for liberty may in general be summed in a
few very simple forms, as follows:
Misguiding is mischievous: therefore guiding is.
If the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch: therefore, nobody
should lead anybody.
Lambs and fawns should be left free in the fields; much more bears and
wolves.
If a man's gun and shot are his own, he may fire in any direction he
pleases.
A fence across a road is inconvenient; much more one at the side of it.
Babes should not be swaddled with their hands bound down to their sides:
therefore they should be thrown out to roll in the kennels naked.


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