HEREDITY AND EVOLUTION 121 



first on the parental side, next on the side of the 

 individual agent, who must accept his vital heritage, 

 whatever its special features. But the limits to 

 heredity, secure for every man wide scope for 

 sustaining some better hope. In normal human 

 life, heredity settles only subordinate conditions, 

 leaving open large scope for rational and moral 

 endeavour. Set inheritance at the extreme of dis 

 advantage ; it cannot hinder exercise of reflection, 

 regulation of sentiment, government of disposition, 

 and formation of moral character. As loss of sight, 

 or of hearing, or of powers of locomotion, may 

 restrict the possibilities of effort, so may a lack, 

 which heredity determines, lower and shorten the 

 range of potentiality belonging to the life ; but where 

 the common heritage is secure, intellect and will, the 

 light of duty can shine, fulfilment of duty can gather 

 rewards, and the highest excellence of human life is 

 fully within reach. Again, set inheritance at the ex 

 treme of advantage, including physical vigour and 

 gifts of genius ; these are insufficient to secure the ex 

 cellence of life. Not without personal use of wisdom, 

 and self-control, and exercise of self-denial, larger 

 probably than is required in most cases, can the 

 highly favoured in respect of life-heritage reach to ex 

 cellence of human life. A man may inherit large pro 

 perty, and also inherit power to squander it ; he cannot 

 inherit true greatness. Whether he is to be mean or 

 to be noble, he must himself decide. A man may be 

 heir to a great name, but, if he is to escape having it 

 hang as a reproach around his neck, he must by his 

 own endeavour, rise to the level on which his progeni 

 tors previously moved, to their own lasting honour. 



