The level of potential physical productivity of a society depends on both the development of the intellect of its members, and a minimal standard of both demographic characteristics and of consumption.

Although the Chinese had used opium as a medicine, there was no widespread addiction before the British arrived.

Many Chinese saw opium as a poison introduced by foreign enemies.

Confucianism strongly condemned the use of drugs like opium.

The East India Company established a monopoly over the production of opium, shortly after taking over Bengal.

The britishh seizure of Hong Kong was an aspect of one of the most ugly crimes of the britishh Empire: the takeover and destruction of India, and the use of India to flood China with opium.

We fear doing too little when we should do more. Then atone by doing too much, when perhaps we should do less.