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R. H. Tawney Biography

Richard Henry "R. H." Tawney (/ˈtɔːni/; 30 November 1880 – 16 January 1962) was an English economic historian, social critic, ethical socialist, Christian socialist, and an important proponent of adult education.

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R. H. Tawney Quotes

The characteristic virtue of Englishmen is power of sustained practical activity and their characteristic vice a reluctance to test the quality of that activity by reference to principles.

Characteristic, Principles, Quality, Sustained, Test, Vices

Convinced that character is all and circumstances nothing, [the Puritan] sees in the poverty of those who fall by the way, not a misfortune to be pitied and relieved, but a moral failing to be condemned, and in riches, not an object of suspicion. . . but the blessing which rewards the triumph of energy and will.

Blessing, Character, Fall, Poverty, Rewards, Way

Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow.

Death, Freedom, Minnow, Minnows, Pike

When men have gone so far as to talk as though their idols have come to life, it is time that someone broke them.

God, Idols, Men, Though, Time

An erring colleague is not an Amalkite to be smitten hip and thigh.

Amalkite, Colleague, Erring, Hips, Smitten

A society which reverences the attainment of riches as the supreme felicity will naturally be disposed to regard the poor as damned. . . if only to justify itself for making their life a hell.

Hell, Making, Riches, Society, Wealth

The real economic cleavage is not. . . between employers and employed, but between all who do constructive work, from scientist to laborer, on the one hand, and all whose main interest is the preservation of existing proprietary rights upon the other, irrespective of whether they contribute to constructive work or not.

Interest, Philosophy, Real, Rights, Work

It is probable that democracy owes more to nonconformity than to any other single movement.

Democracy, Movement, Nonconformity, Probable

. . . and was disposed too often to idealize as a virtue that habit of mean subservience to wealth and social position which, after more than half a century of political democracy, is still the characteristic and odious vice of the Englishman.

Characteristic, Democracy, Mean, Political, Vice

Bankruptcies of governments have, on the whole, done less harm to mankind than their ability to raise loans.

Done, Government, Governments, Harm, Investing, Whole

The certainties of one age are the problems of the next.

Age, Art, Certainties, Philosophy, Problems, Science

It is not till it is discovered that high individual incomes will not purchase the mass of mankind immunity from cholera, typhus, and ignorance, still less secure them the positive advantages of educational opportunity and economic security, that slowly and reluctantly, amid prophecies of moral degeneration and economic disaster, society begins to make collective provision for needs which no ordinary individual, even if he works overtime all his life, can provide himself.

Begins, Educational, Ignorance, Opportunity, Prophecies

If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as much happiness as is good for any of the children of Adam.

Adam, Children, Happiness, Inspirational, Work

R. H. Tawney Biography

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