Samuel Drew (1765-1833), a Cornish philosopher and Methodist preacher who trained as a cobbler. Like Socrates, Smiles and Drew put little faith in the benefits of political reforms if the ordinary citizen, and those in public office, did not practise self-restraint and justice as a matter of daily habit. Government institutions do not impart virtue to the public; it is a virtuous public that imparts justice to Government institutions. And like a family, a Government does not have to be penny-pinching to be prosperous; but it does have to give up policies that pander to politicians’ vices and weaknesses. As Adam Smith wrote, “What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom.”
IT must be admitted that self-denial and self-help would make a poor rallying cry for the hustings; and it is to be feared that the patriotism of this day has but little regard for such common things as individual economy and providence,* although it is by the practice of such virtues only that the genuine independence of the industrial classes is to be secured.
“Prudence, frugality, and good management,” said Samuel Drew,* the philosophical shoemaker, “are excellent artists for mending bad times: they occupy but little room in any dwelling, but would furnish a more effectual remedy for the evils of life than any Reform Bill that ever passed the Houses of Parliament.” Socrates said, “Let him that would move the world move first himself.”* Or, as the old rhyme runs
“If every one would see
To his own reformation,
How very easily
You might reform a nation.”*
It is, however, generally felt to be a far easier thing to reform the Church and the State than to reform the least of our own bad habits; and in such matters it is usually found more agreeable to our tastes, as it certainly is the common practice, to begin with our neighbours rather than with ourselves.
* Smiles was not advocating living in an environment of fingerless mitts and bare floorboards, but making sure our money was spent on things and people important to us and not frittered away in ways we would later regret. Indeed, he specifically reprimanded those who saved money with no intention of spending or sharing it: see Inordinate Saving.
* Samuel Drew (1765-1833), a Cornish philosopher and Methodist preacher who trained as a cobbler. According to his son’s biography of him, Drew was writing to ‘a young female correspondent’ when he said this. Samuel Drew was editor of the Imperial Magazine, and had oversight of publications by the Caxton Press. Drew’s first published work took the form of some ‘remarks’ on Tom Paine’s blistering attack on Christianity in Age of Reason (1798); later he specialised in research on Christian teachings about immortality and resurrection.
* Socrates (469-399 BC) was a Greek philosopher, generally regarded today as the founder of Western philosophy. It is a pity that Smiles did not tell us where he found this well-turned and much-quoted phrase. A similar sentiment may be found in Alcibiades, where Plato (or whoever the author is, attribution to Plato is now a minority view) has Socrates say: “Then you, or anyone else who is to be ruler and trustee, not only of himself and his private business, but also the city and the city’s business, must first acquire virtue himself. So what you need to get for yourself and for the city isn’t political power, nor the authority to do what you like; what you need is justice and self-control.”
* In The Family Herald for March 5th, 1853, these lines are part of a larger collection of Words of Wisdom ‘translated from the Chinese by Dr Bowring’. Sir John Bowring (1792-1872) was MP for Bolton in 1841-1849, British consul at Canton (Guangzhou) and superintendent of trade in China in 1849-1853, and fourth Governor of Hong Kong in 1854-1859. Bowring was an active campaigner against slavery, and an early advocate of free trade. He helped push through a long-lasting treaty of amity with Siam (Thailand) on April 18th, 1855, known as the Bowring Treaty.
Précis
Victorian motivational writer Samuel Smiles admitted that politicians were unlikely to campaign on a policy of encouraging the public to save money and spend their savings wisely. It would do more for the country than most Government regulations do, he argued, calling Socrates and proverbial wisdom as witnesses; but unfortunately, reforming public institutions is preferable to reforming ourselves. (58 / 60 words)
