There exists to-day a scheme of action, a school of
thought, as collective and unmistakable as any of those by whose grouping
alone we can make any outline of history. It is as firm a fact as the
Oxford Movement, or the Puritans of the Long Parliament; or the
Jansenists; or the Jesuits. It is a thing that can be pointed out; it is a
thing that can be discussed; and it is a thing that can still be
destroyed. It is called for convenience "Eugenics"; and that it ought to
be destroyed I propose to prove in the pages that follow. I know that it
means very different things to different people; but that is only because
evil always takes advantage of ambiguity. I know it is praised with high
professions of idealism and benevolence; with silver-tongued rhetoric
about purer motherhood and a happier posterity. But that is only because
evil is always flattered, as the Furies were called "The Gracious Ones." I
know that it numbers many disciples whose intentions are entirely innocent
and humane; and who would be sincerely astonished at my describing it as I
do. But that is only because evil always wins through the strength of its
splendid dupes; and there has in all ages been a disastrous alliance
between abnormal innocence and abnormal sin. Of these who are deceived I
shall speak of course as we all do of such instruments; judging them by
the good they think they are doing, and not by the evil which they really
do. But Eugenics itself does exist for those who have sense enough to see
that ideas exist; and Eugenics itself, in large quantities or small,
coming quickly or coming slowly, urged from good motives or bad, applied
to a thousand people or applied to three, Eugenics itself is a thing no
more to be bargained about than poisoning.
-Eugenics and Other Evils (1922)
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