The Abolition of Man

‘It is upon the trunk that a gentleman works. When that is firmly set up, the Way grows. And surely proper behaviour to parents and elder brothers is the trunk of goodness.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, i. 2.)

‘Brothers shall fight and be each others’ bane.’ (Old Norse. Account of the Evil Age before the World’s end, Volospá 45.)

‘Has he insulted his elder sister?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446.)

‘You will see them take care of their kindred [and] the children of their friends . . . never reproaching them in the least.’ (Redskin. Le Jeune, quoted ERE v. 437.)

‘Love thy wife studiously. Gladden her heart all thy life long.’ (Ancient Egyptian. ERE v. 481.)

‘Nothing can ever change the claims of kinship for a right thinking man.’ (Anglo-Saxon. Beowulf, 2600.)

‘Did not Socrates love his own children, though he did so as a free man and as one not forgetting that the gods have the first claim on our friendship?’ (Greek. Epictetus, iii. 24.)

‘Natural affection is a thing right and according to Nature.’ (Greek. Ibid. I. xi.)

‘I ought not to be unfeeling like a statue but should fulfil both my natural and artificial relations, as a worshipper, a son, a brother, a father, and a citizen.’ (Greek, Ibid. III. ii.)

‘This first I rede thee: be blameless to thy kindred. Take no vengeance even though they do thee wrong.’ (Old Norse. Sigrdrifumál, 22.)

‘Is it only the sons of Atreus who love their wives? For every good man, who is right-minded, loves and cherishes his own.’ (Greek. Homer, Iliad, ix. 340.)

‘The union and fellowship of men will be best preserved if each receives from us the more kindness in proportion as he is more closely connected with us.’ (Roman. Cicero, De Off. I. xvi.)

‘Part of us is claimed by our country, part by our parents, part by our friends.’ (Roman. Ibid. I. vii.)

‘If a ruler . . . compassed the salvation of the whole state, surely you would call him Good? The Master said, It would no longer be a matter of “Good”. He would without doubt be a Divine Sage.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, vi. 28.)

‘Has it escaped you that, in the eyes of gods and good men, your native land deserves from you more honour, worship, and reverence than your mother and father and all your ancestors? That you should give a softer answer to its anger than to a father’s anger? That if you cannot persuade it to alter its mind you must obey it in all quietness, whether it binds you or beats you or sends you to a war where you may get wounds or death?’ (Greek. Plato, Crito, 51 A, B.)

‘If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith.’ (Christian. I Tim. v. 8.)

‘Put them in mind to obey magistrates.’ . . . ‘I exhort that prayers be made for kings and all that are in authority.’ (Christian. Tit. iii. 1 and I Tim. ii. 1, 2.)