Page 240 - TruthAboutLyingFinal

The Truth About Lying
“And they don’t?”
“That is the thinking of species still afraid of hunger.” Henry frowned. “So what happens when hunger ends?” “A greater emptiness begins.”
Henry said nothing.
“When survival is secure,” the Curator said, “a species no longer wakes each day asking how to live another day. Hunger is managed. Disease is contained. Shelter is common. Scarcity loosens its grip. War becomes rare. Death is delayed.
“That is when the harder questions arrive.
“What is worth building now? What deserves loyalty? How do we keep wonder alive? How do we stop comfort from becoming emptiness?
“When survival is no longer the struggle, purpose becomes the struggle.”
“And you chose us?” “We chose becoming.” “Meaning?”
“Old civilizations harden. They become efficient. Predictable. Safe. They lose surprise. They lose risk. They lose wonder.”
“And we were different?”
“You were unfinished. Violent. Kind. Selfish. Generous. Capable of cruelty and sacrifice.”
“Sounds messy.” “It was rare.”
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