Check out the last two stanzas of Rudyard Kipling's "The Gods of The Copybook Headings," courtesy of Wikipedia.
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of ManIf you're not sure what a Copybook Heading might be, see the Wikipedia entry. If you conclude Kipling thought social progress was illusory, you won't get an argument from me.
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
