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intellect and humanity could cause everything to happen in an
infinitely superior manner。 Could one like the divine Juliushumane；
generous； broadest of view； deep thinkingwield such power； certainly every
human being would enjoy happiness。
But that which is thoughtlessly credited to a non…existent
intelligence should really be claimed and exercised by the human
race。 It is ourselves who should direct our affairs； protecting
ourselves from pain； assisting ourselves； succouring and rendering our lives
happy。 We must do for ourselves what
superstition has hitherto supposed an intelligence to do for us。
Nothing whatsoever is done for us。 We are born naked； and not even protected
by a shaggy covering。 Nothing is done for us。
The first and strongest command （using the word to convey the
idea only） that nature； the universe； our own bodies give； is to
do everything for ourselves。 The sea does not make boats for us；
nor the earth of her own will build us hospitals。 The injured lie bleeding；
and no invisible power lifts them up。 The maidens were scorched in the midst
of their devotions； and their remains make a mound hundreds of yards long。
The infants perished in the snow； and the ravens tore their limbs。 Those in
the theatre crushed each other to the deathagony。 For how long； for how
many thousand years； must the earth and the sea； and the fire and the air；
utter these things and force them upon us before they are admitted in their
full significance？
These things speak with a voice of thunder。 From every human being whose
body has been racked by pain； from every human being who has suffered from
accident or disease； from every human being drowned； burned； or slain by
negligence； there goes up a continually increasing cry louder than the
thunder。
An awe…inspiring cry dread to listen to； which no one dares listen to；
against which ears are stopped by the wax of superstition and the wax of
criminal selfishness：These miseries are your doing； because you have mind
and though； and could have prevented them。 You can prevent them in the
future。 You do not even try。
It is perfectly certain that all diseases without exception are
preventable； or； if not so； that they can be so weakened as to
do no harm。 It is perfectly certain that all accidents are
preventable； there is not one that does not arise from folly or
negligence。 All accidents are crimes。 It is perfectly certain
that all human beings are capable of physical happiness。 It is
absolutely incontrovertible that the ideal shape of the human
being is attainable to the exclusion of deformities。 It is
incontrovertible that there is no necessity for any man to die
but of old aoe； and that if death cannot be prevented life
can be prolonged far beyond the farthest now known。 It is incontrovertible
that at the present time no one ever dies of old age。 Not one single person
ever dies of old age； or of natural causes； for there is no such thing as a
natural cause of death。 They die of disease or weakness which is the result
of disease either in themselves or in their ancestors。 No such thing as old
age is known to us。 We do not even know what old age would be like； because
no one ever lives to it。
Our bodies are full of unsuspected flaws； handed down it may be
for thousands of years； and it is of these that we die； and not
of natural decay。 Till these are eliminated； or as nearly
eliminated as possible； we shall never even know what true old
age is like； nor what the true natural limit of human life is。
The utmost limit now appears to be about one hundred and five
years； but as each person who has got so far has died of weaknesses
inherited through thousands of years； it is impossible to say to what number
of years he would have reached in a natural state。 It seems more than
possible that true old agethe slow and natural decay of the body apart
from inherited
flawwould be free from very many； if not all； of the petty
miseries which now render extreme age a doubtful blessing。 If
the limbs grew weaker they would not totter； if the teeth
dropped it would not be till the last； if the eyes were less
strong they would not be quite dim； nor would the mind lose its
memory。
But now we see eyes become dim and artifical aid needed in comparative
youth； and teeth drop out in mere childhood。
Many men and women lose teeth before they are twenty。 This simple fact is
evidence enough of inherited weakness or flaw。 How could a person who had
lost teeth before twenty be ever said to die of old age； though he died at a
hundred and ten？ Death is not a supernatural event； it is an event of the
most materialistic character； and may certainly be postponed； by the united
efforts of the human race； to a period far more distant from the date of
birth than has been the case during the historic period。 The question has
often been debated in my mind whether death is or is not wholly preventable；
whether； if the entire human race were united in their efforts to eliminate
causes of decay； death might not also be altogether eliminated。
If we consider ourselves by the analogy of animals； trees； and
other living creatures； the reply is that； however postponed；
in long process of time the tissues must wither。 Suppose an ideal man； free
from inherited flaw； then though his age might
be prolonged to several centuries； in the end the natural body
must wear out。 That is true so far。 But it so happens that the analogy is
not just； and therefore the conclusions it points to are not tenable。
Man is altogether different from every other animal； every other living
creature known。 He is different in body。 In his purely natural statein his
true natural statehe is immeasurably stronger。 No animal approaches to the
physical perfection of which a man is capable。 He can weary the strongest
horse； he can outrun the swiftest stag； he can bear extremes of heat and
cold hunger and thirst； which would exterminate every known living thing。
Merely in bodily strength he is superior to all。 The stories of antiquity；
which were deemed fables； may be fables historically； but search has shown
that they are not intrinsically fables。 Man of flesh and blood is capable
of all that Ajax； all that Hercules did。 Feats in modern days have surpassed
these； as when Webb swam the Channel； mythology contains nothing equal to
that。 The difference does not end here。 Animals think to a certain extent；
but if their conceptions be ever so clever； not having hands they cannot
execute them。
I myself maintain that the mind of man is practically infinite。
It can understand anything brought before it。 It has not the
power of its own motion to bring everything before it； but when
anything is brought it is understood。 It is like sitting in a
room with one window； you cannot compel everything to pass the
window； but whatever does pass is seen。 It is like a magnifying glass； which
magnifies and explains everything brought into its focus。 The mind of man is
infinite。 Beyond this； man has a soul。 I do not use this word in the common
sense which circumstances have given to it。 I use it as the only term to
express that inner consciousness which aspires。 These brief reasons show
that the analogy is imperfect； and that therefore； although an ideal
animala horse； a dog； a lionmust die； it does not follow that an ideal
man must。 He has a body possessed of exceptional recuperative powers； which；
under proper conditions； continually repairs itself。 He has a mind by which
he can select remedies； and select his course and carefully restore the
waste of tissue。 He has a soul； as yet； it seems to me； lying in abeyance；
by the aid of which he may yet discover things now deemed supernatural。
Considering these things I am obliged by facts and incontrovert…ible
argument to conclude that death is not inevitable to the ideal man。 He is
shaped for a species of physical immortality。 The beauty of form of the
ideal human being indicates immortalitythe contour； the curve； the outline
answer to the idea of life。 In the course of ages united effort long
continued may eliminate those causes of decay which have grown up in ages
past； and after that has been done advance farther and improve the natural
state。 As a river brings down suspended particles of sand； and depositing
them at its mouth forms a delta and a new country； as the air and the rain
and the heat of the sun desiccate the rocks and slowly wear down mountains
into sand； so the united action of the human race； continued through
centuries； may build up the ideal man and woman。
Each individual labouring in his day through geological time in front must
produce an effect。 The instance of Sparta； where so much was done in a few
centuries； is almost proof of it。
The truth is； we die through our ancestors； we are murdered by our
ancestors。 Their dead hands stretch forth from the tomb and drag us down to
their mouldering bones。 We in our turn are now at this moment preparing
death for our unborn posterity。 This day those that die do not die in the
sense of old age； they are slain。 Nothing has been accumulated for our
benefit in ages past。 All the labour and the toil of so many millions
continued through such v