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.
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.
‘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!’.
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)
