Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
"Undoubtedly it is. Rest serves to restore the bodily powers and is also necessary in order to
give a little more freedom to the mind, enabling it to raise itself above matter."
683. What is the limit of labour?
"The limit of strength; but God leaves man at liberty to decide this point for himself."
684. What is to be thought of those who misuse their authority by imposing too heavy a
labour on their inferiors?
"They commit one of the worst of crimes. Every man exercising authority is answerable for
any excess of labour imposed by him on those who are under his orders, for he thereby
transgresses the law of God." (273.)
685. Has man a right to repose in old age?
"Yes; he is only obliged to labour according to his strength."
- But what resource is there for the old man who needs to work in order to support himself,
and yet is unable to do so?
"The strong should work for the weak; where family-help is not to be had, society should
supply its place. Such is the law of charity."
To say that it Is necessary for man to work is not to make a complete statement of the subject for it is also
necessary that he who has to gel his bread by labour should be able to find occupation, and this is far
from being always the case. whenever the suspension of labour becomes general, it assumes the
proportions of a famine. Economic science seeks a remedy for this evil In the equilibrium of production
and consumption: but this equilibrium. supposing it to be attainable, will always be subject to
intermittences, and during these intervals the labourer must live. There is an element of the question
which has not been sufficiently considered. viz., education, not merely the education of the intellect, not
even that of the moral nature as given by books, but that which consists in the formation, of characters
and habits; for education is the totality of the habits acquired. When we consider how great a mass of
individuals are thrown each day into the torrent of population. abandoned, without principles or curb. to
the impulsions of their animal instincts, can we wonder at the disastrous consequences thence resulting?
When the art of education shall be rightly understood and practised, each man will bring into the sphere
of daily life habits of order and forethought for himself and for those dependent on him, and of respect
for what is worthy of being respected ; and these habits will enable him to traverse periods of difficulty
with greater ease. Disorder and improvidence are social sores that can only be cured by education rightly
understood; the generalisation of such education is the starting-point and essential element of social wenbeing,
the only pledge of security for all.