"Struggle is the father of all things. It is not by the principles of humanity that man lives or is able to preserve himself above the animal world, but solely by means of the most brutal struggle"

Adolf Hitler’s assertion encapsulates a worldview grounded in conflict and competition as the defining forces of human advancement and survival. By declaring that “struggle is the father of all things,” the statement elevates hardship, conflict, and challenge to the status of primal, creative forces behind the evolution of societies, cultures, and individuals. Such a perspective dismisses the value of cooperation or universal moral principles as secondary or even irrelevant to the progress of mankind. Rather, it posits that it is through confrontation, often harsh and violent, that individuals and groups not only survive but thrive, adapting and growing stronger in response to adversity.

The line, “It is not by the principles of humanity that man lives...” reveals a fundamental rejection of ideals such as compassion, empathy, and moral responsibility, which are often considered hallmarks of civilized society. According to this statement, those principles are not the real engines that propel human societies forward or differentiate humans from animals. Instead, the “most brutal struggle” is championed as the real law of both human nature and history.

This philosophy closely mirrors the concept of Social Darwinism, an ideology that misapplies Darwin’s theories of natural selection to societies, suggesting that the strongest or most ruthless are destined to prevail. It paints human life as an unending contest where mercy, fairness, and mutual aid are seen as forms of weakness or obstacles to progress. The emphasis on brutality as a means to survive and “preserve himself above the animal world” seeks to justify not only competition, but extreme forms of violence and oppression as necessary or even admirable.

Such a worldview, while explaining certain patterns of conflict in history, overlooks the profound achievements made possible by solidarity, empathy, and the underlying principles of humanity. Over time, human civilizations have reached higher states of development through cooperation, ethical codes, and compassion, qualities that counteract the unchecked brutality advocated in this statement.