A secure and open path... The Kyle of Tongue is a long firth at the mouth of the Kinloch River, reaching from the foot of Ben Hope to the northern coast of Scotland. It is crossed by this causeway between Achuvoldrach on the west and Tongue on the east.
Introduction
Bentham argues that while laws are necessary to protect security and liberty, government action should stop there: politicians can never do as much for us as we can do for ourselves.
THE motto, or watchword of government, on these occasions, ought to be — Be quiet.
Each individual bestowing more time and attention upon the means of preserving and increasing his portion of wealth, than is or can be bestowed by government, is likely to take a more effectual course than what, in his instance and on his behalf, would be taken by government.
Whatever measures, therefore, cannot be justified as exceptions to that rule, may be considered as non agenda on the part of government.* The art, therefore, is reduced within a small compass: security and freedom are all that industry requires.
The request which agriculture, manufactures, and commerce present to governments, is modest and reasonable as that which Diogenes made to Alexander: “Stand out of my sunshine.”** We have no need of favour — we require only a secure and open path.
From ‘The Works of Jeremy Bentham’ (Volume III) at the online Library of Liberty.
‘non agenda’ is a Latin phrase meaning ‘actions that are not required’.
** In 336 BC, Alexander the Great visited the philosopher Diogenes, who was holidaying in Corinth. See ‘Stand out of my Sunshine!’.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
The philosopher Jeremy Bentham argued that the role of government in wealth creation should be limited to keeping businesses secure and free, since business owners themselves are best placed to set and achieve their own goals. Aside from that, a government should resolve to ‘be quiet’, or risk being accused of standing in the way of success. (57 / 60 words)
The philosopher Jeremy Bentham argued that the role of government in wealth creation should be limited to keeping businesses secure and free, since business owners themselves are best placed to set and achieve their own goals. Aside from that, a government should resolve to ‘be quiet’, or risk being accused of standing in the way of success.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, despite, if, may, not, ought, unless.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Agenda. All. Measure.
2 Occasion. Ought. Rule.
3 Each. His. Need.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
rrng (5+1)
arrange. erring. raring. rearing. roaring.
earring.
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