Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1659

Carbon of a letter from Heath to Isabel Paterson, 1 Canal Road, Princeton, New Jersey

November 4, 1958

 

 

Dear Miss Paterson:

     Thank you for your further letter of the first. I hasten to send you today a copy of my Citadel, Market and Altar, which I hope you will find stimulating, at the least. It, of course, does deal with the “impossible,” which I hope will not disqualify it with you, since all things that ever have been or now are were impossible until the time for them arrived.

     As to “perpetual motion,” I have no knowledge of any other kind. Motion can change — be transformed — but there is no evidence in nature that it can ever cease however, superficially, it may seem.

     To me, the “problem” is not (as with the animals) how to avoid or keep on leash that which serves us ill, but to discover what it is that has thus far served us well, and through understanding this contrive that it shall serve us more. Successful engineers and businessmen concentrate on their resources and their assets, not upon mere mitigation of their obstacles and liabilities.

     Nothing is easy to solve until the requisite means for what is desired is discovered and understood. Then, “easy does it.” Social objectives are realizable only through mutually serving (which is loving objectively) and never through unilateral forced serving (taxation) which is servitude and not service and leads to slavery. Free enterprise is /that/ form of organization in which alone men can create and not destroy, /in/ any widespread affairs, private or public.

     Among our tradition-bound, “educated” mentalities, very few can conceive any distinction between servitude and society, coercion and voluntarism, slavery and freedom. Traditionally, the term government is twisted to mean both services and servitude — the supplying of general community services and at the same time the general seizing of property (taxation) and infringement of liberty thereby. But … enough for tonight.

                   Cordially,

 

I am reminded how Plato said, “He shall be as a god (creator) to me who can rightly define and divide.”