[Charity Begins at Home]

By Margaret Sanger, Editor of the Birth Control Review

Yes, not only should charity begin at home, but what is far more important, responsibility should begin at home. If each man and woman would live up to the obligation of the highest instincts in their natures, there would be little need of charity. EachAll of us would be able to give of ourselves and our substance so freely and unconsciously that the thought of dependence or of charity would have but small place in the thought of the world.

All modern life makes for social responsibility. We can no longer be concerned with our own private interests alone. We have learned that our own interests can be secure only in the security of our neighbor’s.

It is impossible in modern city life to have pure water for your own family’s use, unless your neighbor is also provided with pure water. The same principle applies to milk, other foods, drugs--virtually all our necessities. So it is with our health we have associations and public health measures in order that all may have the benefit of cures or, better still, of preventive measures. The same situation is observed in education. To protect our children, our neighbors and society, we must do our part in instructing our children and in providing general education for them. We must pay special attention to personal and social hygiene, to such training as will make our children children’s lives of value to themselves and to society.

In these days it is more than ever true that we do not live to ourselves alone. Our social responsibilities daily become

If we allow children to go into a polluted world, our work is undone. So, not only charity, but something that precedes charity must begin at home. We must first recognize in ourselves our responsibility to the community--we must provide for the education of the children of our neighbors, of our fellow citizens. We cannot escape our social responsibilities without danger to ourselves. More than ever is it true that we do not live to ourselves alone.

Every day, our lives become more closely intertwined, one with another. Society is often and aptly compared to a chain--it is not stronger than its weakest link. We must see to it that the links which we, personally compose, are as strong as they can be made. And while we are doing this, we must do our utmost to help others to make their own links strong--for our own links are useless without the cooperation of others.

Charity begins at home that it may have the more to give. Responsibility beings at home that it may there gather strength through the discharge of its first obligations, to help in the discharge of the general responsibility.