Man's Unique Reward, However, Is That While Animals Survive By
Adjusting Themselves To Their Background, Man Survives By
Adjusting His Background To Himself.
Man's unique reward, however, is that while animals survive by
adjusting themselves to their background, man survives by
adjusting his background to himself. If a drought strikes them,
animals perish -- man builds irrigation canals; if a flood strikes
them, animals perish -- man builds dams; if a carnivorous pack
attacks them, animals perish -- man writes the Constitution of
the United States. But one does not obtain food, safety or
freedom -- by instinct.
-- Ayn Rand
Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock
strike hey die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to
instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and
unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one
starts lawsuits over their wills....