Quote by Bertrand Russell

From the standpoint of the upper classes, the system had many merits. They felt that what was paid out of the poor rate was charity, and therefore a proof of their benevolence; at the same time, wages were kept at starvation level by a method which just prevented discontent from developing into revolution...It was plainly the certainty, derived from the old Poor Law, that actual death would be averted by the parish authorities, which induced the rural poor of England to endure their misery patiently...it taught them respect for their 'betters'.While leaving all the wealth that they produced, beyond the absolute minimum required for subsistence, in the hands of the landowners and farmers. It was at this period that landowners built the sham Gothic ruins called 'follies', where they indulged in romantic sensibility about the past while they filled the present with misery and degradation.

From the standpoint of the upper classes, the system had man

Summary

This quote explains the viewpoint of the upper classes regarding the social and economic system of the time. They believed that the system had several advantages. Firstly, they saw the assistance provided through the poor rate as an act of charity, allowing them to display their benevolence. Additionally, they recognized that keeping wages at very low levels helped prevent discontent among the poor from escalating into a revolution. The quote also highlights the notion that the system in place ensured the survival of the impoverished population through the aid provided by parish authorities, which further reinforced their subservience and respect towards their social superiors. Ultimately, the quote suggests that this system perpetuated wealth inequality, enabling landowners and farmers to accumulate surplus wealth while the poor lived in misery and degradation.

Topics

Charity Exploitation The Poor

By Bertrand Russell

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