112 APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS 



moral precepts are directed to the end of curbing the 

 cosmic process and reminding the individual of his 

 duty to the community, to the protection and 

 influence of which he owes, if not existence itself, 

 at least the life of something better than a brutal 

 savage. 



CCLII 



The theory of evolution encourages no millennial 

 anticipations. If, for millions of years, our globe 

 has taken the upward road, yet, some time, the 

 summit will be reached and the downward route 

 will be commenced. The most daring imagination 

 will hardly venture upon the suggestion that the 

 power and the intelligence of man can ever arrest 

 the procession of the great year. 



Moreover, the cosmic nature born with us and, 

 to a large extent, necessary for our maintenance, 

 is the outcome of millions of years of severe train- 

 ing, and it would be folly to imagine that a few 

 centuries will suffice to subdue its masterfulness 

 to purely ethical ends. Ethical nature may count 

 upon having to reckon with a tenacious and powerful 

 enemy as long as the world lasts. But, on the 

 other hand, I see no limit to the extent to which 

 intelligence and will, guided by sound principles 

 of investigation, and organized in common effort, 

 may modify the conditions of existence, for a period 

 longer than that now covered by history. And 

 much may be done to change the nature of man 

 himself. The intelligence which has converted the 

 brother of the wolf into the faithful guardian of 

 the flock ought to be able to do something towards 

 curbing the instincts of savagery in civilized 

 men. 



But if we may permit ourselves a larger hope of 

 abatement of the essential evil of the world than 



