The Abolition of Man

by C.S. Lewis

‘Has he despised Father and Mother?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446) ‘I was a staff by my Father’s side…I went in and out at his command.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 481)

‘Honour thy Father and thy Mother.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:12)

‘I tended the old man, I gave him my staff.’ (Ancient Egyptian. ERE v. 481)

‘I have not taken away the oblations of the blessed dead.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478)

‘Children, the old, the poor, etc. should be considered as lords of the atmosphere.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 8) ‘To marry and to beget children.’ (Greek. List of duties. Epictetus, 111. vii)

‘Nature produces a special love of offspring’ and ‘To live according to Nature is the supreme good.’ (Roman. Cicero, De Off. 1. iv, and De Legibus, 1. xxi)

‘The killing of the women and more especially of the young boys and girls who are to go to make up the future strength of the people, is the saddest part…and we feel it very sorely.’ (Redskin. Account of the Battle of Wounded Knee. ERE v. 432)

‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:14) ‘I saw in Nástrond (= Hell)…beguilers of others’ wives.’ (Old Norse. Volospá 38, 39)

‘Has he drawn false boundaries?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446) ‘To wrong, to rob, to cause to be robbed.’ (Babylonian. Ibid.) ‘I have not stolen.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478)

‘Thou shalt not steal.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:15)

‘The first point of justice is that none should do any mischief to another unless he has first been attacked by the other’s wrongdoing. The second is that a man should treat common property as common property, and private property as his own. There is no such thing as private property by nature, but things have become private either through prior occupation (as when men of old came into empty territory) or by conquest, or law, or agreement, or stipulation, or casting lots.’ (Roman. Cicero, De Off. 1. vii)

‘Whoso takes no bribe…well pleasing is this to Samas.’ (Babylonian. ERE v. 445) ‘I have not traduced the slave to him who is set over him.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478) ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:16)

‘Do no unrighteousness in judgement. You must not consider the fact that one party is poor nor the fact that the other is a great man.’ (Ancient Jewish. Leviticus 19:15)

‘With his mouth was he full of Yea, in his heart full of Nay?’ (Babylonian. ERE v. 446) ‘I have not spoken falsehood.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478) ‘I sought no trickery, nor swore false oaths.’ (Anglo-Saxon. Beowulf, 2738) ‘The Master said, Be of unwavering good faith.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, viii. 13) ‘In Nástrond (= Hell) I saw the perjurers.’ (Old Norse. Volospá 39) ‘Hateful to me as are the gates of Hades is that man who says one thing, and hides another in his heart.’ (Greek. Homer. Iliad, ix. 312) ‘The foundation of justice is good faith.’ (Roman. Cicero, De Off. 1. vii) ‘[The gentleman] must learn to be faithful to his superiors and to keep promises.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, i. 8) ‘Anything is better than treachery.’ (Old Norse. Hávamál 124)