We have to realize that the child’s world is without economic purpose. A child doesn’t understand – happy ignorance – that people are paid to do things. To a child the policeman rules the street for self-important majesty; the furnace man stokes the furnace because he loves the noise of falling coal and the fun of getting dirty; the grocer is held to his counter by the lure of aromatic spices and the joy of giving. And in this very ignorance there is a grain of truth. The child’s economic world may be the one that we are reaching out in vain to find. Here is a path in the wood of economics that some day might be followed to new discovery. Meantime, the children know it well and gather beside it their flowers of beautiful illusion.
Source:Â On the Front Line of Life by Stephen Leacock; in John Robson's Words Worth Noting
Posted: 2025 Nov 15
Never thought of “the Chief” looking at an iguana, but you are quite right. In future I’ll have a new perspective on them. Wako is one of my favourite places in Florida.
(I know technically I can’t have more than one “favourite”)
Jim – If he’d cleared his throat or harrumphed, the impression would have been even stronger. I figured he was likely cooling off, but don’t really know. And Wako is now one of my favourite places, too! 🙂