As the earth approaches its decline

Rudolf Steiner, November 4, 1919:  "After we reach a certain age in our physical life, the body begins to decline, but the sensible person does not complain, knowing that with one's soul one is nearing a life that does not run parallel to the decay of this physical body. Something lives in humankind that is not connected with the decline of the physical earth that has already begun, but that gets increasingly spiritual because of this physical decadence. Let's learn to say openly: 'Yes, the earth and also human life with respect to its physical manifestation is going downhill; but just because that's so, let's gather the strength to get that immortal element into our civilization, that element from humankind that must go on living as the earth approaches its decline.'"