SUMMARY 413 



of creative values; we are appalled by nature's appar- 

 ent carelessness of individual life and, to us, the un- 

 meaning usage of her overwhelming power. But the 

 wider perspective of the evolutionist tends to correct 

 this mental confusion ; and his mental attitude to nature- 

 action, more rightly oriented, renews and fortifies his 

 faith in nature's creative purpose. 



In mental life our little tragedies are mostly of our 

 own creation; they are mostly mental insurrections 

 against the growing consciousness of external compul- 

 sion and hostile limitation to our purposes. But when 

 the inevitable truth is clearly recognized, our mental 

 subjugation is completed in the appetite of desire, and 

 surrender to it becomes our pleasure and reward. 



No accession of power can ever solve our problems, 

 or the accumulation of possessions satisfy our desires; 

 they are but new burdens which create new demands 

 and impose new restrictions on us. 



The constructive usage of what we have for that 

 ulterior creative service we shall always crave is the 

 source of happiness. 



Our resentment of the world's injustice vanishes 

 when we come to feel the sense of growth and owner- 

 ship in the world about us, and in its growth partici- 

 pate. The strictest discipline and greatest hardships 

 are no longer such, if we know that through them we 

 better play the game; if as parent, patriot, explorer, 

 artist, student, or as worker in any line whatsoevei of 

 human endeavor, our ideals are still preserved and we 

 truly seek and strive to satisfy our great desire. 



