GENETICS AND ETHICS 503 



best use that man has made of his freedom has 

 been to place limitations upon it." Again and 

 again, age after age, men and families and 

 nations have gone up to a climax of greatness 

 and then have declined, while other unknown 

 men have taken their places. Greatness has 

 not for long perpetuated itself. An epitome 

 of human history is contained in the words, 

 "He hath put down the mighty from their 

 seats and hath exalted them of low degree." 



It may well be asked by those who are in- 

 terested in breeding a better race of men 

 whether such a thing is possible, whether the 

 better race may not be lacking in vitality or 

 fertility or morality and thus be doomed to 

 an early end. Although this has been the fate 

 of many gifted races of the past I do not think 

 that it was a necessary fate. The history of 

 domesticated animals and of cultivated plants, 

 and especially the recent notable advances in 

 genetics, indicate what eugenics might do for 

 the human race. In time, under intelligent 

 guidance, the worst qualities of the race might 

 be weeded out and the best qualities preserved. 

 This is the goal toward which intelligent effort 



