The original edition of "Why are the many poor?" differs very
little from that now in circulation. It was revised some years later by
Bernard Shaw, who cut down the rhetoric and sharpened the phraseology,
but the substance has not been changed. It is remarkable as containing a
sneer at Christianity, the only one to be found in the publications of
the Society. Perhaps this was a rebound from excess of "subordination of
material things to spiritual things" insisted on by the Fellowship of
the New Life!
The tract had on its title page two mottoes, the second of which has
played some part in the Society's history. They were produced, again
according to tradition, by Frank Podmore, and, though printed as
quotations, are not to be discovered in any history:--
"Wherefore it may not be gainsaid that the fruit of this man's long
taking of counsel--and (by the many so deemed) untimeous delays--was
the safe-holding for all men, his fellow-citizens, of the Common
Weal."
"For the right moment you must wait, as Fabius did most patiently,
when warring against Hannibal, though many censured his delays; but
when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your
waiting will be in vain, and fruitless."
It has been pointed out by Mr. H.G. Wells, and by others before him,
that Fabius never did strike hard; and many have enquired when the
right time for the Fabians to strike would come.
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