FACTORS IN CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION 27 



emphasis in the wrong place and on the wrong thing. 

 It measures the cost, but not the gain. It counts the 

 failures but ignores the manner of achieving success. 



There is nothing new in "humanitarian" methods. 

 These methods are as old as the universe. With these 

 methods, the universe was built. Evolution is a process 

 of more and more effective cooperation. All manner of 

 living is a fabric of cooperating services. In every 

 sphere of nature, chemical or physical, organic, social, 

 or "spiritual," and at every stage in its progress, evolu- 

 tion is achieved through union, not disunion; through 

 construction, not destruction; through harmonious 

 action, not discord; through organization, not 

 disorganization; through cooperation, not compe- 

 tition; through the bondage of service, not the 

 license of freedom; through service that leads to 

 more service, not through dominion and freedom from 

 service. 



The processes that produce evolution, as distinct 

 from those that do not, are essentially benevolent and 

 moral processes; for evolution is a progressive triumph 

 of "right," or constructive methods of self-giving. In 

 nature every forward step in construction and conser- 

 vation is a creating and saving process, whether it be 

 the union of cosmic matter to form solar systems, or 

 atoms to form chemical compounds, or cells and or- 

 gans to form a body, or man to form society. In all 

 cases the forward step is the result of a successful giv- 

 ing, or surrender of self to form a part of something 

 that is larger and better equipped for a wider and 

 longer service. Every living thing has its two great 

 phases of egoism and altruism; one when it is getting 

 or receiving all it is; the other when it is giving all 



