The Bear-King, or The Price of Hubris

Abstract

Once upon a time, in the middle of a deep, dark forest in a land far, far away, stood the palace of a king who ruled over an immense empire. But although his kingdom was rich and powerful, all was not well. The people were not happy and laughter was never heard in the land.

And on the pedestal these words appear:

“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

Nothing beside remains.

Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ozymandias

Hubris is one of the great renewable resources.

—P. J. O’Rourke

We can never be gods, after all— but we can become something less than human with frightening ease.

—N. K. Jemisinok