Note 738 — Chapter I · : THE OPTIMISTS

If a person died intestate he was in favour of equal division of wealth. The arguments which he employed are very interesting, especially those directed against the upholders of primogeniture. They thought that by depriving the younger sons of their inheritance they became more industrious and thoughtful. Dunoyer replies by asking whether it would not be an advantage to deny the right of succession to the eldest son as well, “for it is obviously unfair that he should be deprived of that kind of training which is so profitable to his younger brothers.” Dunoyer forgot that it would have gone ill with his arguments if the socialists had taken him at his word.