168 SAVAGE SURVIVALS 



We have within us many impulses that have no 

 business to be there. And the purpose of these 

 lessons is to teach yon the existence of these im- 

 pulses, and that it is your duty as civilized be- 

 ings to crush them. These impulses are the 

 *^ beasts" of our nature, and contend constantly 

 with our better impulses for mastery. They are 

 older and more fundamental and often more po^v- 

 erful than our better impulses, and drive us to do 

 things in spite of our better selves. But it is of 

 great advantage to us in this struggle to under- 

 stand the origin and nature and the dishonorable 

 character of the forces with which we contend. 



5. The Selfish Instinct. 



Selfishness is regard for oneself — partiality to- 

 ward that part of the universe which is bounded 

 by one's own skin. It is the general nature of 

 men to disregard the Golden Rule — ^to treat them- 

 selves more considerately than they do others. 

 The Golden Rule commands us to have the same 

 interest in others and the same enthusiasm for 

 the well-being and prosperity of others as we have 

 for ourselves. But our machinery is not built for 

 this kind of conduct. It is merely another one of 

 those many inconveniences which we find in our 

 natures resulting from our lowly, animal origin. 



Selfishness may consist simply of regard for 

 oneself, but with regard for self is usually asso- 

 ciated a disposition to do injuries to others. 



Selfishness is a general term. It includes such 



