Whatisoftencalledthestruggleforexistenceinsociety (Ipleadguiltytohavingusedthetermtoolooselymyself), isacontest, notforthemeansofexistence, ; thosewhofail, moreorless, occupythelowerplaces, , ; butletitbesupposed, forthesakeofargument, thatitisasgreatasfivepercent[1]
Asitisonlyinthelattergroupthatanythingcomparabletothestruggleforexistenceinthestateofnaturecantakeplace; asitisonlyamongthistwentiethofthewholepeoplethatnumerousmen, women, andchildrendieofrapidorslowstarvation, orofthediseasesincidentaltopermanentlybadconditionsoflife; andasthereisnothingtopreventtheirmultiplicationbeforetheyarekilledoff, while, inspiteofgreaterinfantmortality, theyincreasefasterthantherich; .
Whatsortofasheepbreederwouldhebewhoshouldcontenthimselfwithpickingouttheworstfiftyoutofathousand, leavingthemonabarrencommontilltheweakeststarved, andthenlettingthesurvivorsgobacktomixwiththerest? Andtheparallelistoofavourable; sinceinalargenumberofcases, theactualpoorandtheconvictedcriminalsareneithertheweakestnortheworst.
Inthestruggleforthemeansofenjoyment, thequalitieswhichensuresuccessareenergy, industry,intellectualcapacity, tenacityofpurpose, and, atleast,,[2]thestruggleforthemeansofenjoymentwouldensureaconstantcirculationofthehumanunitsofthesocialcompound,, thosewhocontinuedtoformthegreatbulkofthepolity, wouldnotbethose "fittest" whogottotheverytop, butthegreatbodyofthemoderately "fit," whosenumbersandsuperiorpropagativepower, enablethemalwaystoswamptheexceptionallyendowedminority.
