GENETICS AND ETHICS 489 



doubtless an "unlimited microscopist" could 

 find differences between the trained and the 

 untrained brain. The brains of Beethoven, 

 Gauss and Cuvier, although unusually large, 

 have been matched in size and visible complex- 

 ity by the brains of unknown and unlearned 

 persons — persons who were richly endowed by 

 nature but who had never learned to use their 

 talents. In all men the capacity for intellec- 

 tual development is probably much greater 

 than the actuality. The parable of the talents 

 expresses a profound biological truth, men 

 differ in hereditary endowments, one receives 

 ten talents and another receives but one; but 

 the used talent increases many fold, the un- 

 used remains unchanged and undeveloped. 

 Happy is he who is compelled to use his tal- 

 ents; thrice happy he who has learned how 

 to compel himself! We shall not live to see 

 the day when human inheritance is greatly im- 

 proved, though that time will doubtless come, 

 but in the meantime we may console ourselves 

 by the thought that we have many half -used 

 talents, many latent capacities, and although 

 we may not be able to add to our inheritance 



