Of course, if you look upon the work of the revolutionist
as the mere wresting of certain definite
concessions from the government, then the secret
sect and the knife must seem to you the best weapons,
for there is nothing else which all governments
so dread. But if you think, as I do, that to
force the government's hand is not an end in itself,
but only a means to an end, and that what we
really need to reform is the relation between man
and man, then you must go differently to work.
Accustoming ignorant people to the sight of blood
is not the way to raise the value they put on human
life."
"And the value they put on religion?"
"I don't understand."
He smiled.
"I think we differ as to where the root of the
mischief lies. You place it in a lack of appreciation
of the value of human life."
"Rather of the sacredness of human personality."
"Put it as you like. To me the great cause of
our muddles and mistakes seems to lie in the
mental disease called religion."
"Do you mean any religion in particular?"
"Oh, no! That is a mere question of external
symptoms.
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