Uh-huh. But if we look at human beings as individuals...then we see that there is an entire range of possibilities in each one of us, all the way from a "devil" at one end to an "angel" at the other, and everything else in between.

Civilization reflects that. You can see whichever side of the human condition you wish to reflect on when you look at it. We're sometimes very good, sometimes very bad, often in the gray areas between, and often conflicted.

So...what do you choose to reflect on? Why? And where does that leave you? We all have that choice in front of us, every moment of our lives. Best to choose carefully.

The very fact that we can even imagine being "better than other animals" (Meaning merciful? Forgiving? Altruistic? Loving? Compassionate?) means that the possibility of doing so...and the option...is always there, right in front of you, if you are willing to rise to the challenge.

We're all going to die at some point anyway, no matter what our strategies for survival are...so why not rise to the highest and best that we are capable of before that happens? Some have done so, and are remembered for it. All can do so. They just have to consciously make that choice.