The Abolition of Man

‘Your father is an image of the Lord of Creation, your mother an image of the Earth. For him who fails to honour them, every work of piety is in vain. This is the first duty.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 9.)

‘Has he despised Father and Mother?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446.)

‘I was a staff by my Father’s side. . . . I went in and out at his command.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 481.)

‘Honour thy Father and thy Mother.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus xx. 12.)

‘To care for parents.’ (Greek. List of duties in Epictetus, III. vii.)

‘Children, old men, the poor, and the sick, should be considered as the lords of the atmosphere.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 8.)

‘Rise up before the hoary head and honour the old man.’ (Ancient Jewish. Lev. xix. 32.)

‘I tended the old man, I gave him my staff.’ (Ancient Egyptian. ERE v. 481.)

‘You will see them take care . . . of old men.’ (Redskin. Le Jeune, quoted ERE v. 437.)

‘I have not taken away the oblations of the blessed dead.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478.)

‘When proper respect towards the dead is shown at the end and continued after they are far away, the moral force (tê) of a people has reached its highest point.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, i. 9.)