APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS 131 



ourselves. In a real, though incomplete, degree 

 we have attained the condition of peace which is 

 the main object of social organization ; and, for 

 argument's sake, it may be assumed that we desire 

 nothing but that which is in itself innocent and 

 praiseworthy— namely, the enjoyment of the fruits 

 of honest industry. And lo ! in spite of ourselves, 

 we are in reality engaged in an internecine struggle 

 for existence with our presumably no less peaceful 

 and well-meaning neighbours. We seek peace and 

 we do not ensue, it. The moral nature in us asks 

 for no more than is compatible with the general 

 good ; the non-moral nature proclaims and acts upon 

 that fine old Scottish family motto, "Thou shalt 

 starve ere I want." Let us be under no illusions, 

 then. So long as unlimited multiplication goes on, 

 no social organization which has ever been devised, 

 or is likely to be devised, no fiddle-faddling with 

 the distribution of wealth, will deliver society from 

 the tendency to be destroyed by the reproduction 

 within itself, in its intensest form, of that struggle 

 for existence the limitation of which is the object 

 of society. And however shocking to the moral 

 sense this eternal competition of man against man 

 and of nation against nation may be ; however 

 revolting may be the accumulation of misery at 

 the negative pole of society, in contrast with that 

 of monstrous wealth at the positive pole ; this state 

 of things must abide, and grow continually worse, 

 so long as Istar holds her way unchecked. It is 

 the true riddle of the Sphinx ; and every nation 

 which does not solve it will sooner or later be 

 devoured by the monster itself has generated. 



■ CCLXXIX 



It would be folly to entertain any ill-feeling 

 towards those neighbours and rivals who, like 



K 2 



