Note 734 — Chapter I · : THE OPTIMISTS
R. (Robert) Richards translation
“Workers must understand that these collective funds [pension funds] must be voluntarily contributed by those who are to have a share in them. It would be quite unjust, as well as anti-social, to raise them by means of taxation—that is, by force—from the classes who have no share in the benefits.” (Harmonies, chap. 14, p. 471.)
“A peasant marries late in the hope of having a small family, and we force him to rear other people’s children. He has to contribute towards the rearing of bastards.” (Ibid., chap. 20, pp. 617, 618.)
Speaking of sharing in the benefits, he remarks: “That is really not worth talking about.” (Ibid., chap. 14, p. 457.)