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Chapter 8
1. Then the factory workmen came to ask him, ‘And us, what will we do when the Hour sounds?’
2. He said to them, ‘First rejoice, for the time of slavery will have passed—and the days of freedom will have come.’
3. But they asked, ‘And then who will do everything we do now—and the other necessary things?’
4. He said, ‘When things will be needed—you will certainly have to return to the factories and plants.
5. ‘But everyone who is out of work today or employed in some useless and bad work—should return with you.
6. ‘And you will choose the most expert and the most skilled in each branch—to study the conditions and needs of things.
7. ‘In order to obtain the best possible results—with the least amount of labor;
8. ‘For in those times, since no one will want to lack anything—it will be necessary to produce a lot more than today,
9. ‘Manufacturing nothing of bad quality nor of false luxury—with which the merchants attract the naïve.
10. ‘But making everything for the common good—for deceit will be fruitless and unforgivable.
11. ‘The shoemaker sometimes puts bad leather on shoes—because times are hard and he’s afraid of not being paid;
12. ‘The mason sometimes hides the frost-cracked stone in the mortar—because he is weary and his master hurries him;
13. ‘But if, on the other hand, they work for themselves—they do the work with care and solidity because why deceive yourself?!
14. ‘Likewise, everything will be made with attention and taste—for no one will be forced to do anything against his will.
15. ‘But each will choose his job according to his aptitudes and forces—for the name of parasite will be detested.
16. ‘As for those who pretend to live idly at the expense of others—you will chase them away from you.
17. ‘You will no longer let anyone set up business—nor rent out land, house, tool or machine.
18. ‘For no one will need to sell or rent what is needed—and only what is needed is legitimately yours.
19. ‘If, then, anyone offers to rent or sell anything—anyone will have the right to take it if there is need.
20. ‘You also have to know what you need—among things that come from the fields.
21. ‘And what the people of the country need—among the things that you manufacture.
22. ‘In order that neither the ones nor the others lack necessities—but all live happily and in good harmony.
23. ‘And you won’t know how to do all these things unless you are united—to study and measure beforehand your needs and strengths.
24. ‘So prepare yourselves today for all these things—to know what you will have to do when the moment comes.
25. ‘For if you do not think of it in time, famine will come upon you—and this will be a great calamity.
26. ‘But if that happens, don’t lose courage—but flee the cities and go live in the country.
27. ‘For all food comes from the land—and working the land is the surest security.’
28. Then someone asked him, ‘Tell us how it will work in those times: the post office and communication and the railroads and navigation.
29. ‘And how bridges will be built, tunnels dug—machines and ships constructed?’
30. He answered, ‘How will you do all these things and many others besides—in truth I know nothing about it.
31. ‘And if I knew and told you—you would still not understand.
32. ‘But what I do know is that man will not renounce anything useful—so that he will use more than ever.
33. ‘So he will have to carry them out in accord with the new forms of life—and it is in this that he has to trust.’
Chapter 7 * Chapter 9
Black Lung
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