4964. MAN, Destructive.—
In the whole
animal kingdom I recollect no family but
man, steadily and systematically employed in
the destruction of itself. Nor does what is
called civilization produce any other effect,
than to teach him to pursue the principle of
the bellum omnium in omnia on a greater
scale, and instead of the little contest between
tribe and tribe, to comprehend all the
quarters of the earth in the same work of
destruction. If to this we add, that as to
other animals, the lions and tigers are mere
lambs compared with man as a destroyer,
we must conclude that nature has been able
to find in man alone a sufficient barrier
against the too great multiplication of other
animals and of man himself, an equilibrating
power against the fecundity of generation.
While in making these observations, my situation
points my attention to the warfare of
man in the physical world, yours may present
him as equally warring in the moral one.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 156.
Ford ed., vii, 99.
(1797)
