Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/360

 346 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Civilization has been humanity's gradual discovery of itself. From the start men have been the same enigma to themselves that the Yerkes telescope is to the men who are now learning to use it or rather a thousandfold more enigmatical. The question about human nature, as about the telescope, has been, What is it good for ? What is its capacity ? What can it do ? Ever since human acts have been recorded some men have always gone ahead of others in answering the question by experiment. Human cunning, prowess, foresight, persistence have made some men superior to others ; but at the same time they have advertised human resources, and registered human capabilities. Some men have been adventurers, discovering their own opportunities and talents and powers. They have made successful ventures. They have acquired new skill, they have made new tools, they have devised new processes, they have won comfort, riches, renown. Then other men have looked at them, and have said to themselves "They are only men after all. They are made of the same stuff I am made of. They have no rights or powers that are not in me too. What they have done, what they have gained, and enjoyed, is proper object of endeavor for every man." Enter- prise and envy have been equal partners in making the world. The strong, original, capable men of one day have been the typical, model, standard men of the next day. What these pioneer men have been and done and possessed all men have presently tried to be and do and possess. Hurnanity has found itself by proxy. Men with the fullest tide of life in their veins have gone ahead in trying their strength and their talent. Then less original men have seen the results. They have wanted them. They have said "These things come from human strength and talent. We are also human. We will have the same things too."

There has been no more constant motive in civilization than the one which cropped out in Casca's tirade against Caesar.

I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life ; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself.