I think the radical is usually just a man who hasn't got
something he wants."
"And the conservative is a man who wants to keep something he's got,"
said Ben, less hostilely than he had spoken to Eddie.
"Exactly, exactly," said Cord. "In ideality there isn't much to choose
between them, but, generally speaking, I have more respect for the man
who has succeeded in getting something to preserve than for the man
who hasn't got anything to lose."
"If their opportunities were equal."
"I say in general. There is not much to choose between the two types;
but there is in my opinion a shade in favor of the conservative on
the score of efficiency, and I am old-fashioned perhaps, but I like
efficiency. If it came to a fight, I should fight on the conservative
side. But this is all beside the point. My objections to your brother,
Mr. Moreton, are not objections to his group or class. They are
personal to him. Damned personal."
"You don't like David?"
"Why, he's an attractive young fellow, but, if you'll forgive my
saying so, Mr. Moreton, I don't think he's any good. He's weak, he's
idle, he entirely lacks that aggressive will that--whether we have
your revolution or not--is the only bulwark a woman has in this world.
Why, Mr. Moreton, you are evidently a very much more advanced and
dangerous radical than your brother, but I should not have half the
objection to you that I have to him.
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