378 The Morality of Nature 



sion to evade it, but with an added responsibility to observe 

 it better in the knowledge. The perception is a mandate to 

 a higher duty and an insight to farther privilege. It is the 

 foundation for hope in every time of a sense of unfitness; 

 and for triumph in every sacrifice. The neglect of it is 

 penalized by its own consequences. In a world where co- 

 operative life is building up always, in progressive evolution, 

 to neglect this principle is to lose the advantage of mutual 

 support. Even to stand still in it is to lose the coming award 

 of its benefits, when those who have not stood will be allied 

 in their merit. 



It is true that every one of these trustees has freedom. 

 Liberty is part of the trust in the highest phases of co-opera- 

 tion. As is clearly shown in the study of conduct of the lesser 

 or individual life, controlled activity is less effective than free 

 activity. Forced co-operation is less effective than volun- 

 tary co-operation; and when, in due course, free unity of 

 purpose appears, even if only an accidental variation of con- 

 duct, its superiority gives it precedence. Thus liberty is 

 added by evolution to the hereditary trust, and the fulfillment 

 of duty becomes in its highest form voluntary, and not a 

 mere obedience to a control or direction. This recent addi- 

 tion to the strength of humanity, which is made evident in 

 freedom of conscience, and religious emancipation, and in 

 political liberty, is to be regarded as a new responsibility 

 of self-knowing life. It imposes the duty of self-control so 

 that the social machine shall keep and use its great power. 

 It exemplifies too the reality of progress as a still living im- 

 pulse, and emphasizes the need of not only good work, but 

 of better and continually improving work. 



