On the Threshold of the Hive 
of all the inhabitants of this globe, possess 
the highest degree of intellect after that 
of man. The aim of nature is manifestly 
the improvement of the race; but no 
less manifest is her inability, or refusal, 
to obtain such improvement except at 
the cost of the liberty, the rights, and 
the happiness of the individual. In 
proportion as a society organises itself, 
and rises in the scale, so does a shrinkage 
enter the private life of each one of its 
members. Where there is progress, it 
is the result only of a more and more 
complete sacrifice of the individual to 
the general interest. Each one is com- 
pelled, first of all, to renounce his vices, 
which are acts of independence. For 
instance, at the last stage but one of 
apiarian civilisation, we find the humble- 
bees, which are like our cannibals. The 
adult workers are incessantly hovering 
around the eggs, which they seek to 
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