Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
—Whosayswehavemorethantheslightestveneerofcivilizationcoatedoverourrawsavagerywhenagroupoflivingmencanasksuchaquestionofamanabouttodieandwhomtheyaretoseedie?
ButJakewasevergame.“Gentlemen,”hesaid,“Ihopetolivetoseethedaywhencapitalpunishmentisabolished.”
Ihavelivedmanylivesthroughthelongages.Man,theindividual,hasmadenomoralprogressinthepasttenthousandyears.Iaffirmthisabsolutely.Thedifferencebetweenanunbrokencoltandthepatientdraught-horseispurelyadifferenceoftraining.Trainingistheonlymoraldifferencebetweenthemanofto-dayandthemanoftenthousandyearsago.Underhisthinskinofmoralitywhichhehashadpolishedontohim,heisthesamesavagethathewastenthousandyearsago.Moralityisasocialfund,anaccretionthroughthepainfulages.Thenew-bornchildwillbecomeasavageunlessitistrained,polished,bytheabstractmoralitythathasbeensolongaccumulating.
“Thoushaltnotkill”—piffle!Theyaregoingtokillmeto-morrowmorning.“Thoushaltnotkill”—piffle!Intheshipyardsofallcivilizedcountriestheyarelayingto-daythekeelsofDreadnoughtsandofSuperdreadnoughts.
