When we think of these creatures as little men (which is all wrong
of course) we see they have their faults. To our eyes they seem
too orderly, for instance. Repressively so. Their ways are more
fixed than those of the old Egyptians, and their industry is painful
to think of, it's hyper-Chinese. But we must remember this is a
simian comment. The instincts of the species that you and I belong
to are of an opposite kind; and that makes it hard for us to judge
ants fairly.

But we and the ants are alike in one matter: the strong love of
property. And instead of merely struggling with Nature for it,
they also fight other ants. The custom of plunder seems to be a
part of most of their wars. This has gone on for ages among them,
and continues today. Raids, ferocious combats, and loot are part
of an ant's regular life. Ant reformers, if there were any, might
lay this to their property sense, and talk of abolishing property
as a cure for the evil. But that would not help for long unless
they could abolish the love of it.

Ants seem to care even more for property than we do ourselves. We
men are inclined to ease up a little when we have all we need. But
it no so with ants: they can't bear to stop: they keep right on
working. This means that ants do not contemplate: they heed nothing
outside of their own little rounds. It is almost as though their
fondness for labor had closed fast their minds.

Conceivably they might have developed inquiring minds. But this
would have run against their strongest instincts. The ant is
knowing and wise; but he doesn't know enough to take a vacation.
The worshipper of energy is too physically energetic to see that