82 THE RISE OF MAN. 



is in itself innocent and praiseworthy namely, the enjoyment of 

 the fruits of honest industry). And lo ! in spite of ourselves, we 

 are in reality engaged in an internecine struggle for existence with 

 our presumably no less peaceful and well-meaning neighbors. We 

 seek peace and we do not ensue it. The moral nature in us asks 

 for no more than is compatible with the general good; the non- 

 moral nature proclaims and acts upon that fine old Scottish family 

 motto, 'Thou shalt starve ere I want.' Let us be under no illusion, 

 then." 



With all due respect to the facts presented by Pro- 

 fessor Huxley, we must object to the conclusion at which 

 he arrives. Professor Huxley's view of morals is based 

 on the error that the wolf is immoral while the sheep is 

 moral. The strong one is supposed to be an evil-doer, 

 simply on account of his strength, while the weak one is 

 supposed to be good simply on account of his weakness. 

 Not the hero is glorified that ' ' fights the good fight of 

 faith," but the martyr that allows himself to be slaugh- 

 tered without resistance. 



This ethics has long been fostered by Christian mor- 

 alists, because unfortunately Christ was compared to a 

 lamb that is sacrificed, and because, in one of his alle- 

 gories, Christ compares the good to sheep whom he will 

 place at the right hand. The allegory is misinterpreted. 

 It is neither the weakness nor the inactivity, but the purity 

 of the sheep that is approved by Christ. How much is 

 blamed, in another parable, the inactive and cowardly 

 servant who buried the talent that was entrusted to him ! 



This ovine morality has detracted much of the pith 

 and strength from Christian ethics. It has made it tame 

 and weak and even despicable. Morality is not, as many 

 lamb-souled moralists pretend, the negative quality of 

 suffering ; morality according to modern ethics is the pos- 

 itive virtue of energetic activity. Ours is, as the scientist 

 correctly states, a struggle for existence ; and those who 

 consider it meritorious to succumb to injustice and vio- 

 lence justly go to the wall. Their enemies, unjust though 



