uses food and grows and that responds to external changes in adaptive ways. 

 We discover that plants and animals undergo regular changes, sometimes 

 reproduce themselves, and unless in the meantime destroyed, complete a 

 pattern of activities, or die. The combination of characteristics which dis- 

 tinguishes the living from the nonliving joins us human beings to the grass 

 of the field and the birds and the beasts and the very fleas that infest the 

 world. But beyond all that he shares with animals and plants, man has a 

 hand and a mind with which he can reconstruct his world and make his 

 dreams come true. 



Finally, we think of ourselves as unique individuals, recognizing that 

 being "different" is inseparable from being "alive". And so we come to 

 accept ourselves and all others as equal — but different — members of that 

 unique human species, just people, able to share in the great adventure of 

 raising ourselves more and more above the beast. 



