The Old Savagery

The Old Savagery

"We see it all around us today - in political creeds, in the conduct of nations. A reaction from humanitarianism - from pity - from brotherly good-will. The creeds sound well sometimes - a wise regime - a beneficent government - but imposed by force, resting on a basis of cruelty and fear. Opening  the door, these apostles of violence are letting out the old savagery, the old delight in cruelty for its own sake! Man is an animal very delicately balanced. He has one prime necessity - to survive. To advance too quickly is as fatal as to lag behind. He must survive! He must, perhaps, retain some of the old savagery, but he must not - no, definitely he must not - deify it!"

- Agatha Christie