This simian world . owingand wise; but he doesnt know enough to take avacation. The worshipper of energy is too physi-cally energetic to see that he cannot explorecertain higher fields until he is still. Even if such a race had somehow achievedself-consciousness and reason, would they havebeen able therewith to rule their instincts, or tostop work long enough to examine themselves^or the universe, or to dream of any noble devel-opment? Probably not. Reason is seldom ornever the ruler: it is the servant of instinct. Itwould therefore have told the ants that incessanttoil was useful and good. To
This simian world . owingand wise; but he doesnt know enough to take avacation. The worshipper of energy is too physi-cally energetic to see that he cannot explorecertain higher fields until he is still. Even if such a race had somehow achievedself-consciousness and reason, would they havebeen able therewith to rule their instincts, or tostop work long enough to examine themselves^or the universe, or to dream of any noble devel-opment? Probably not. Reason is seldom ornever the ruler: it is the servant of instinct. Itwould therefore have told the ants that incessanttoil was useful and good. Toil has brought you up from the ruck otthings, Reason would have plausibly said. Its -15- This Simian World by virtue of feverish toil that you have becomewhat you are. Being endlessly industrious is thebest road—for you—to the heights. And, self-reassured, they would then have had orgies ofwork; and thus, by devoted exertion, haveblocked their advancement. Work, and orderand gain would have withered their SIX Let us take the great cats. They are free fromthis talent for slave-hood. Stately beasts like thelion have more independence of mind than theants,—and a self-respect, we may note, unknownto primates. Or consider the leopards, with heartsthat no tyrant could master. What fearless andresolute leopard-men they could have fathered!How magnificently such a civilization wouldhave made its force tell! A race of civilized beings descended from thesegreat cats would have been rich in hermits andsolitary thinkers. The recluse would not havebeen stigmatized as peculiar, as he is by us sim-ians. They would not have been a credulouspeople, or easily religious. False prophets andswindlers would have found few dupes. Andwhat generals they would have made! what con-summate politicians! Dont imagine them as a collection of tigers-]7- This Simian World walking around on their hind-legs. They wouldhave only been like tigers in the sense that wemen are like monkeys. Their develo
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