erly and annual meetings, and
triennial congresses! And a literary organ or two! And a
badge--naturally a badge, designed by a famous artist in harmonious
tints!

* * * * *

But my fancy does not run at all in this direction. I am convinced that
we have already far too many societies for the furtherance of our ends.
To my mind, most societies with a moral aim are merely clumsy machines
for doing simple jobs with the maximum of friction, expense and
inefficiency. I should define the majority of these societies as a group
of persons each of whom expects the others to do something very
wonderful. Why create a society in order to help you to perform some act
which nobody can perform but yourself? No society can cultivate goodwill
in you. You might as well create a society for shaving or for saying
your prayers. And further, goodwill is far less a process of performing
acts than a process of thinking thoughts. To think, is it necessary to
involve yourself in the cog-wheels of a society? Moreover, a society
means fuss and shouting: two species of disturbance which are both
futile and deleterious, particularly in an intimate affair of morals.

You can best help the general cultivation of goodwill along by
cultivating goodwill in your own heart. Until you have started the task
of personal cultivation, you will probably assume that there will be
time left over for superintending the cultivation of goodwill in other
people's hearts. But a very little experience ought to show you that
this is a delusion. You will perceive, if not at once, later, that you
have bitten off just about as much as you can chew. And you will
appreciate also the wisdom of not advertising your enterprise. Why,
indeed, should you breathe a word to a single soul concerning your
admirable intentions? Rest assured that any unusual sprouting of the
desired crop will be instantly noticed by the persons interested.

* * * * *

The next point is: Towards whom are you to cultivate goodwill?
Naturally, one would answer: Towards the whole of humanity. But the
whole of humanity, as far as you are concerned, amounts to naught but a
magnificent abstract conception. And it is very difficult to cultivate
goodwill towards a magnificent abstract conception. The object of
goodwill ought to be clearly defined, and very visible to the physical
eye, especially in the case of people, such as us, who are only just