The primitive in human nature is relevant not only to a special early stage of mankind’s history, but it is relevant to all men at all times. Our archaic history and our childhood are not something like a snake’s skin , a growth shed after its allotted time. Rather it is like the inner rings of a tree, something which is included within later growth and determines its shape.

人的本性不僅跟人類亙古的歷史有關，也跟各個時期的人類有關。我們人類古早的歷史和我們的童年有些類似，如同蛇的蛻皮一樣。但更像是樹的年輪一圈包覆著一圈成長，而決定日後的樹形樣貌。