8 them ; they are anterior to all religions. They are found amongst all animals living in society. They are spontaneously deYeloped ·by the very nature of things, like those habits in animals which men call instinct. They spring from a process of evolution, which is useful, and, indeed, necessary, to keep society together in the struggle it is forced to maintafo for existence. Savages end by no longer ea.ting one another, because they find it in the long run more advantageous to devote themselves to ·some sort of cultivation, than to enjoy the pleasure of feasting upon the flesh of an aged relative once a year. Many travellers have depicted the manners of absolutely. independent tribes, where laws and chiefs are unknown, but where the mem~ hers of the tribe have given up stabbing one anoth~r in every dispute, ,because the habit of living in society has ended by developing certain feelings of fraternity and oneness of ,interest, and they prefer appea.ling to a third person t-0 settle their differences. The hospitality of primitive peoples, respect for human life, the sense of reciprocal -0bligation, compassion for the weak, courage, extending even to the sacrifice of self for other-s, which is first learnt for the sake of children and friends, and later, for that of members of the same community-all these qualities are de'\'.eloped in man anterior to all law, independently of all religion, all,in the case of the social animals. Such feelings and practices are the inevitable results of social life. Without b.eing, as say priests and metaphysicians, inherent in man, such qualities are the consequence of life in common. But side by side with these customs, necessary t-0 the life of societies and the preservation of the race, other desires, other . passions, iand therefore other habits and custom.a, are evolved iii - human association. The desire to dominate others and impose ~me's own will upon them; the desire to seize upon the products -~f the labour of a neighbouring tribe; the desire to surround oneself with comforts without producing anything, whilst slaves provide their master with the means of procuring every sort of pleasure and luxury-these selfish, personal desires give rise_to another current of habits and customs. 'l'he priest and the warrior, the charlatan who makes a profit out of superstition, Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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