The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

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Chapter 36 • The Grand Inquirer
rustle of wind in the leaves made the only sound in that park.
Then the Grand Inquirer growled, half at Jonathan, half at the
crowd, “Freedom is the greatest of all burdens that mankind can
bear.” Roaring at the top of his voice, the man raised his arms and
crossed his wrists high above his head, “Freedom is the heaviest of
chains!”
“Why?” persisted Jonathan, fi nally feeling the courage of an
outsider who doesn’t worry much about what others might think of
him.
The Grand Inquirer moved directly in front of Jonathan and
spoke gravely, “Freedom is a monumental weight on the shoulders
of men and women because it requires the use of mind and will.”
With a roar of pain and horror, the Grand Inquirer warned, “Freewill
would make you all fully responsible for your own actions!”
The crowd shuddered at his words; some clapped their hands over
their ears in fright.
“What do you mean ‘responsible’?” asked Jonathan in an
unwavering voice.
The Inquirer retreated a step and his face softened in a kindly
expression. He reached down to pluck a sprig growing near his foot.
“My beloved brothers and sisters, you may not realize the dangers
of which I speak. Close your eyes and imagine the life of this tiny
plant.” His voice grew soft and caressed the crowd.
Everyone, except Jonathan, pressed his or her eyes tightly
closed and concentrated. Hypnotically, the Grand Inquirer began to
describe a picture to the assembly. “This little plant is but a frail
bit of shrubbery, rooted in soil and fi xed upon the earth. It is not
responsible for its actions. All of its actions are pre-set. Ah, the bliss
of a shrub!”
“Now, beloved, imagine an animal. A cute, busy little mouse
scurrying to fi nd its food among the plants. This furry creature is not
responsible for its actions. All that a mouse does is predetermined
by nature. Ah, nature. Happy animal! Neither plant nor animal
suffers any burden of the will because neither faces choice. They
can never be wrong!”
A few in the crowd murmured, “Yes, Grand Inquirer, yes, yes,
so it is.”