... some direst share in the national talk-shop. All this they will try for, and will get the formula thereto made into law within a certain time. Now I firmly believe that it is an illusion to think they can have the reality of any of these things without gaining the beginning of Socialism.
... it will be followed in due course by all the necessary administration which in its turn will lead to the formation of the habit of Socialism, when we shall no more talk of Socialism because it will be among us fully developed, when all contentious politics will be abolished, that is, all clashing interests; and our difference of opinion will be of opinion only, to be settled by the practical march of events.
Meantime I do not fail to appreciate the necessity for immediate action, and I now see that this parliamentary action must be and will be: so let us do our best in it not merely as working-men members but as Socialists...
We ought to have working-men in order to break down the habit of class members, but get good men, and good for the purpose where you can, and let them be under good party discipline...
What shall we do, how shall we live? I don't know, nor do you, & we cannot know...
... more simple and consequently more interesting life.
But then, what will people think drudgery in those days, and what pleasant work? Again I don't know. I have a kind of idea that the time will come when people will rather overdo their hatred of machinery, as perhaps I do now.
No one need think that Socialism, that is, a society of peace and mutual help will destroy the energies of mankind or make dull days for the world. That human energy I believe to be irrepressible, and when there is no outlet for it in war and destruction and the injuring of our neighbours and waste of our own goods, when good fellowship has taken the place of competition, is it unreasonable to suppose that our energy will be turned into the channel of finding out how to make the best of the world instead of the second worst...
Extracts from partial manuscript notes for a talk given in 1893 (B.M. Add. Ms. 45333[8]), printed in May Morris's book William Morris - Artist, Writer, Socialist.