"The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others—as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders—serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God. A very few—as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men—serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and are commonly treated as enemies by it."
According to this quote. I understand that there are different types of people classified into three.
1.) The mass of men who serve "with their bodies"
2.) The men who serve with their consciences
3.) The men who serve with intellect
The mass of men who serve "with their bodies"
"The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc." In my opinion, these are the people who are able to do work with their physical bodies. In the story, I'd compare this to Pretty Alice. According to http://echeat.net/essay.php?t=27574 "The men who served with their bodies was populace, represented by Pretty Alice, who wanted to belong, wanted to conform."
The men who serve with their consciences
"In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs." These are the people who I think can be compared to the Harlequin. The Harlequin had his own way of thinking. Despite the existence of the Ticktock Man and him being aware of the dangers that might be bestowed upon him, he still kept rebelling because he had his own ways. He stood firm on what he thought was "right" in a sense.
The men who serve with intellect
"Others—as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders—serve the state chiefly with their heads;" These are the people who I think are intelligent enough to figure things out and to stand out. Just like the Ticktock Man, these people are the ones who order other people around. The Ticktock Man was superior in a way that everybody feared him because of what he/it can do.
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Is this kind of people evident in the Philippine society?
Yes. An example would be former President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos. He was the 10th president of the Philippines. He declared Martial Law in his term. To make things basic, he was REALLY REALLY strict with his rules. His rules MUST be implied and followed. In 1983, Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated and it was believed to be the doing of Marcos because Aquino wanted to run against him for president. But during Marcos' reign, the Philippines was in the greatest shape you'd ever imagine. The economy was progressing, people were disciplined, the environment was cleaner than it is now. It was almost too perfect. The only thing Marcos wanted was to make the Philippines a better place.
Just like the Ticktock Man, he disciplines people to be ALWAYS on time -- trying to make them be on the dot, not missing appointments. Discipline is always for the better. He'd make sure that time is used wisely and that every second of your life is fruitful.
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Pictures:
("Repent, Harlequin!" said the Ticktock Man)
(Ferdinand Marcos)
(Ninoy Aquino)
(Martial Law)
