corimagua

Despite the etymology of “civilization” from “city” and the development of the word “savage” from the Latin word for “forest”, the most savage way of life is now found in the centers of our most modern cities. Civilization has produced a savagery far worse than that which we once imputed to primitive tribes.

-Jack Weatherford, Savages and Civilization–Who Will Survive?

Prehistoric man was, on the whole, a more peaceful, cooperative, un-warlike, unaggressive creature than we are, and we of the civilized world have gradually become more and more disoperative, more aggressive and hostile, and less cooperative where it most matters, that is, in human relations. The meaning we have put into the term “savage” is more correctly applicable to ourselves.

-Ashley Montagu, The Direction Of Human Development