From page 307 of his wonderful intellectual autobiography, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man:
“The only thing that the psychically-human being can do to improve society is to present society with one improved unit. In a word, ages of experience testify that the only way society can be improved is by the individualist method which Jesus apparently regarded as the only one whereby the Kingdom of Heaven can be established as a going concern; that is, the method of each one doing his very best to improve one.”
And, I would add, vigorously defending themselves, as well as their fellow citizens, against the attempts by various busybodies, whether in government or among the mob, to coerce “improvement” or mete out “punishment” via acts of the State. Social improvement can only happen when society is free to discover what will, in fact, improve it. But, the amazing fact is that when society is free to go its own way, improvement occurs dramatically and rapidly, as is made clear by the testament of every historical episode when, by some aberration or oversight, liberty is permitted to the public and social progress spreads like a wildfire.
