What would
life be like if it were always easy? Would there
be a reason to try to improve things? Would
we not stagnate? H.G. Wells’ classic futuristic
novel, The Time Machine, tells of a people known
as the ‘Eloi’, who, long, long before,
had brought nature under control, and had nothing
to do but stretch out their hands to pick and
eat. But the ease of life had robbed them of
their will-power, made them soft and effeminate
and vulnerable to other, more-aggressive life-forms.
Without hardship
to inspire and spur us on, we would not have
developed as a species, but would probably still
be living in caves, gnawing on raw meat and
wearing animal skins. Because of the pains and
difficulties of life, and our ability to think
and reason, however, we have come this far,
and will thereby go hence. Certainly, we are
not out of the woods yet, and are still faced
with many and great problems, mainly of our
own making (and perhaps we always will be, as
there seems to be an element of mischief-making
in us); but, if we strive, and learn to cooperate
for the common good, we shall almost surely
find solutions to the problems. However, life
must first be accepted for what it is, without
pretending it is otherwise. |
