by Kathie MM
“Civilization is the mastery of violence, the triumph, constantly challenged, over the aggressive nature of primates. For primates we have been and primates we shall remain, however often we learn to find joy in a camellia on moss. This is the very purpose of education. What does education imply? One must offer camellias on moss, tirelessly, in order to escape the natural impulses of our species, because these impulses do not change, and continually threaten the fragile equilibrium of survival….In fact, when the struggle to dominate our primate aggressiveness takes up arms as powerful as books and words, the undertaking is an easy one…”
What do you think about Barbery’s words? Would you like to add anything?