The arrangements of marriage in the Republic are directed to one object--the improvement of the race.

In successive generations a great development both of bodily and mental qualities might be possible.

The analogy of animals tends to show that mankind can within certain limits receive a change of nature.

And as in animals we should commonly choose the best for breeding, and destroy the others, so there must be a selection made of the human beings whose lives are worthy to be preserved.
We start back horrified from this Platonic ideal, in the belief, first, that the higher feelings of humanity are far too strong to be crushed out; secondly, that if the plan could be carried into execution we should be poorly recompensed by improvements in the breed for the loss of the best things in life.

The greatest regard for the weakest and meanest of human beings--the infant, the criminal, the insane, the idiot, truly seems to us one of the noblest results of Christianity.