The End of October

by Lawrence Wright

They had a simple goal: to destroy trust. Such a modern concept, almost like eliminating friendship, she thought. Could it be possible? In fact, it was surprisingly easy. All the virtues—loyalty, patriotism, courage, honesty, faith, compassion, you name it—are just social constructs, patches to cover the naked barbarism that is at our core.

Carelessness was an underestimated threat to civilization.

“I’m not religious myself,” Henry said, “but I often think that if God made us the way we are, he made an animal that threatens to destroy his entire creation. On the other hand, if nature made us, as I believe, we’ve evolved into a species that is almost godlike in every respect. All the power we have, all the creativity, all the wisdom! But there’s a piece of genetic code inside us that wants to blow it all to pieces.”