OF THE TAO EXEMPLIFIED IN HISTORY 89 



The answer is because of the different response given by man 

 to the influence of the Tao. An illustration from natural 

 history will help us. 



"The Praying Mantis goes in for battle and cannibalism : 

 the Empusa is peaceable and respects her kind. To what 

 causes are these profound moral differences due, when the 

 organic structure is the same? The mantis is the gorman- 

 dizer, gorged with meat and strong drink, a fruitful source 

 of savage outbursts; it could not possess the gentleness of the 

 ascetic who dipped his bread in milk. The Empusa is the 

 ascetic. But whence does the one derive her temperate 

 ways when it would seem identical structure ought to produce 

 identity of needs. Propensities and aptitudes do not depend 

 exclusively upon anatomy. High above the physical laws 

 that govern matter rise other laws that govern instincts." 

 (J. H. Fabre). 



