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That the harmless, although they might have some connection or dependency upon the responsible (which, maybe, they themselves can’t assist), shouldn’t upon that account undergo or be punished for the responsible, is among the plainest and most evident guidelines of justice. In probably the most unjust warfare, nonetheless, it’s generally the sovereign or the rulers solely who’re responsible. The topics are nearly all the time completely harmless. At any time when it fits the conveniency of a public enemy, nonetheless, the products of the peaceful residents are seized each at land and at sea; their lands are laid waste, their homes are burnt, and so they themselves, in the event that they presume to make any resistance, are murdered or led into captivity; and all this in probably the most excellent conformity to what are known as the legal guidelines of countries.
That is from Adam Smith, The Idea of Ethical Sentiments.
One in all my objectives, in touring to and from the Mont Pelerin Society conferences in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, was to get by no less than 200 pages of The Idea of Ethical Sentiments. I’m studying it by for the primary time, in preparation for an OLLI speak I’m giving in Monterey in December. Though I discovered it laborious slogging at first, after some time, I discovered a rhythm.
That man was sharp.
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