erewhonian rhapsody

«In the following chapter I will give a few examples of the way in which
what we should call misfortune, hardship, or disease are dealt with by
the Erewhonians, but for the moment will return to their treatment of
cases that with us are criminal. As I have already said, these, though
not judicially punishable, are recognised as requiring correction.
Accordingly, there exists a class of men trained in soul-craft, whom
they call straighteners, as nearly as I can translate a word which
literally means "one who bends back the crooked." These men practise
much as medical men in England, and receive a quasi-surreptitious fee on
every visit. They are treated with the same unreserve, and obeyed as
readily, as our own doctors—that is to say, on the whole
sufficiently—because people know that it is their interest to get well
as soon as they can, and that they will not be scouted as they would be
if their bodies were out of order, even though they may have to undergo
a very painful course of treatment.»

 «There is one remedy for this, and one only.  It is that which the
laws of this country have long received and acted upon, and consists
in the sternest repression of all diseases whatsoever, as soon as
their existence is made manifest to the eye of the law.»

«You may say that it is your misfortune to be criminal; I answer that
it is your crime to be unfortunate.»

«Lastly, I should point out that [...] the more you had been found guiltless of the crime imputed to you, the more you would have been found guilty of one hardly less heinous—I mean the crime of having been maligned unjustly.»

«What is responsibility?  Surely to be responsible means to be liable
to have to give an answer should it be demanded, and all things which
live are responsible for their lives and actions should society see
fit to question them through the mouth of its authorised agent.»