102 MAN THE ANIMAL 



those who are getting a living for themselves shall support 

 those who are not. This is a biologically possible temporary 

 solution, there as elsewhere, chiefly because the extravagantly 

 lush bounty of this good earth of ours, the true "unearned 

 increment," has not yet been entirely exhausted. And until it is, 

 there is plainly no reason why we should not average up the 

 pleasures of human living, if it pleases us so to do — reducing 

 them for some to the end that they may be increased for others. 

 But this process will continue only so long as it causes the fit and 

 industrious no serious discomfort, and does not threaten their 

 survival. 



The checks to bad behavior aflForded by social organization 

 are extremely feeble and ineffective things when groups of men 

 are, or think they are, threatened with biological elimination, 

 or even with the discomfort of a definitely lowered standard of 

 living. Events of the last few years in Asia and Africa, and still 

 more recently in Europe, leave no doubt on this point. "Live 

 and let live" is a fine and noble maxim, but it works prag- 

 matically only so long as there is enough "living" — that is, 

 desired good things that make living pleasant — to go around. 

 Men as individuals and as groups will beg, steal, fight, murder, 

 and otherwise demean themselves to the level of other beasts 

 not yet "civilized," in order, hopefully, to ensure the continued 

 survival of themselves, their own flesh and blood, and their 

 kind, if they feel that survival is threatened. 



Some persons find it difficult to understand or to admit such 

 a view of the ultimate human behavior pattern. They see most 

 people not only living peaceably, most of the time, but also at 

 considerable expense of time and money keeping alive ever- 

 growing numbers of biologically unfit persons. The physically 

 and mentally defective and degenerate, as well as the very 

 young and very old, are taken care of in a manner unparalleled 

 in any other form of life except man's. In the course of history, 

 this process has become largely socialized, first through re- 

 ligious organizations, then through private groups of laymen, 

 until, finally, more and more of the burden has been spread 



