The Inevitable Destination

Ron Hart used the following quote in an editorial he wrote attacking government that thrives on the people’s dependence upon it and its dangers (you can read his whole article here: The Dual Threat to Freedom.

from bondage to spiritual faith;
from faith to courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to complacency;
from complacency to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependence back into bondage.

Hart emphasized the step involving liberty and gave a plug for his particular political persuasion as a Libertarian. It’s an interesting application of the quote, but I think the quote itself has much more to say to the human condition than just advocating a burgeoning political party. Historically this little apothegm has so much going for it, and though I think its message is pretty simple it is clear that no matter how obvious the truth can be, it will nevertheless be forgotten, especially once we’ve turned the corner on liberty and embraced abundance. From that point there just seems to be no stopping the juggernaut of human lust; not until we’ve run headlong into slavery. The Tao Te Ching has it that the best way to rule a people is to “empty their minds and fill their bellies, weaken their wills and strengthen their bones.” Let’s try to remember that when organizational entities of any kind (whether they be governments, corporations, religious institutions, et al.) dangle carrots before us. They’re not doing it out of kindness, though they may think they are, but out of their nature as humans to careen toward bondage.