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consistent with the principles of liberty； and the only one which gives a
reasonable hope of affording full scope for talent。 This system is equally
compatible with all forms of Socialism and Anarchism。 Theoretically； it is
compatible with capitalism； but practically it is so opposite in spirit that it
would hardly be feasible without a complete economic reconstruction。 The
fact that Socialism would facilitate it must be reckoned a very powerful
argument in favor of change； for the waste of talent at present in the poorer
classes of society must be stupendous。
2。 Liberty to follow the creative impulse。 When a man's training has
been completed； if he is possessed of really great abilities； he will do his
best work if he is completely free to follow his bent； creating what seems
good to him； regardless of the judgment of ‘‘experts。'' At present this is
only possible for two classes of people： those who have private means；
and those who can earn a living by an occupation that does not absorb
their whole energies。 Under Socialism； there will be no one with private
means； and if there is to be no loss as regards art and science； the
opportunity which now comes by accident to a few will have to be
provided deliberately for a much larger number。 The men who have used
private means as an opportunity for creative work have been few but
important： one might mention Milton； Shelley； Keats and Darwin as
examples。 Probably none of these would have produced as good work if
they had had to earn their livelihood。 If Darwin had been a university
teacher； he would of course have been dismissed from his post by the
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influence of the clerics on account of his scandalous theories。
Nevertheless； the bulk of the creative work of the world is done at
present by men who subsist by some other occupation。 Science； and
research generally； are usually done in their spare time by men who live by
teaching。 There is no great objection to this in the case of science；
provided the number of hours devoted to teaching is not excessive。 It is
partly because science and teaching are so easily combined that science is
vigorous in the present age。 In music； a composer who is also a performer
enjoys similar advantages； but one who is not a performer must starve；
unless he is rich or willing to pander to the public taste。 In the fine arts； as
a rule； it is not easy in the modern world either to make a living by really
good work or to find a subsidiary profession which leaves enough leisure
for creation。 This is presumably one reason； though by no means the only
one； why art is less flourishing than science。
The bureaucratic State Socialist will have a simple solution for these
difficulties。 He will appoint a body consisting of the most eminent
celebrities in an art or a science； whose business it shall be to judge the
work of young men； and to issue licenses to those whose productions find
favor in their eyes。 A licensed artist shall be considered to have performed
his duty to the community by producing works of art。 But of course he
will have to prove his industry by never failing to produce in reasonable
quantities； and his continued ability by never failing to please his eminent
judgesuntil； in the fulness of time； he becomes a judge himself。 In this
way； the authorities will insure that the artist shall be competent； regular；
and obedient to the best traditions of his art。 Those who fail to fulfil these
conditions will be compelled by the withdrawal of their license to seek
some less dubious mode of earning their living。 Such will be the ideal of
the State Socialist。
In such a world all that makes life tolerable to the lover of beauty
would perish。 Art springs from a wild and anarchic side of human nature；
between the artist and the bureaucrat there must always be a profound
mutual antagonism； an age…long battle in which the artist； always
outwardly worsted； wins in the end through the gratitude of mankind for
the joy that he puts into their lives。 If the wild side of human nature is to
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be permanently subjected to the orderly rules of the benevolent；
uncomprehending bureaucrat； the joy of life will perish out of the earth；
and the very impulse to live will gradually wither and die。 Better a
thousandfold the present world with all its horrors than such a dead
mummy of a world。 Better Anarchism； with all its risks； than a State
Socialism that subjects to rule what must be spontaneous and free if it is to
have any value。 It is this nightmare that makes artists； and lovers of beauty
generally； so often suspicious of Socialism。 But there is nothing in the
essence of Socialism to make art impossible： only certain forms of
Socialism would entail this danger。 William Morris was a Socialist； and
was a Socialist very largely because he was an artist。 And in this he was
not irrational。
It is impossible for art； or any of the higher creative activities； to
flourish under any system which requires that the artist shall prove his
competence to some body of authorities before he is allowed to follow his
impulse。 Any really great artist is almost sure to be thought incompetent
by those among his seniors who would be generally regarded as best
qualified to form an opinion。 And the mere fact of having to produce work
which will please older men is hostile to a free spirit and to bold
innovation。 Apart from this difficulty； selection by older men would lead
to jealousy and intrigue and back…biting； producing a poisonous
atmosphere of underground competition。 The only effect of such a plan
would be to eliminate the few who now slip through owing to some
fortunate accident。 It is not by any system； but by freedom alone； that art
can flourish。
There are two ways by which the artist could secure freedom under
Socialism of the right kind。 He might undertake regular work outside his
art； doing only a few hours' work a day and receiving proportionately less
pay than those who do a full day's work。 He ought； in that case； to be at
liberty to sell his pictures if he could find purchasers。 Such a system would
have many advantages。 It would leave absolutely every man free to
become an artist； provided he were willing to suffer a certain economic
loss。 This would not deter those in whom the impulse was strong and
genuine； but would tend to exclude the dilettante。 Many young artists at
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present endure voluntarily much greater poverty than need be entailed by
only doing half the usual day's work in a well…organized