The whole happiness of man and even his sanity depend on his moral condition. And since society does not exist by itself in a void, but is made up of the individuals who compose it, the problems of society cannot ultimately be solved except in terms of the moral life of individuals. If the citizens are sane, the city will be sane. If the citizens are wild animals, the city will be a jungle.
Thomas Merton, The Ascent to Truth
Thomas Merton, The Ascent to Truth