You & I, the moneyed, the privileged, the fortunate, shall not fare so badly in this world, provided our luck holds. What of it if our consciences itch? Why undermine the dominance of our race, our gunships, our heritage & our legacy? Why fight the "natural" {oh, weaselly word!} order of things? Why? Because of this:-one fine day, a purely predatory world shall consume itself. Yes, the Devil shall take the hindmost until the foremost is the hindmost. In an individual, selfishness uglifies the soul; for the human species, selfishness is extinction.
In the quote from Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, the author reflects on the privileges enjoyed by the wealthy and how they often ignore the moral implications of their advantage. The privileged convince themselves that their fortune is a result of natural order, justifying their dominance and reluctance to challenge the status quo. They question the need to act against their own interests even when their consciences are troubled.
The underlying theme warns that such selfishness, while seemingly beneficial in the short term, ultimately leads to the downfall of humanity. The author suggests that a self-serving approach is detrimental not just to individuals but to society as a whole. Every community and civilization that fails to address its greed and exploitation may face degradation, as the predatory nature of existence could lead to collective extinction.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
