Gerard continued: "We see it all round us to-day - 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 régime - a beneficent government - but imposed by FORCE - resting on a basis of cruelty and fear. They are opening the door, these apostles of violence, they are letting up the old savagery, the old delight in cruelty FOR ITS OWN SAKE! Oh, it is difficult - 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!" There was a pause. Then Sarah said: "You think old Mrs. Boynton is a kind of Sadist?" (The Albatross edition 1939, chapter VI, p. 47)