William Godwin

Since “The Characters of Men Originate in Their External Circumstances” (as Godwin denominates one of his early sections), all we need to do is reform the “external circumstances” of society and, presto (or possibly allegro non troppo), men’s characters will also improve. Here is the crux: Abolish private property, and mankind, finally awakened to its true interests, will cease to plot and hoard and accumulate. --Roger Kimball, Friends of humanity? The New Criterion, November 2003


Recommended reading:
by William Godwin at Reading Rat