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522 The Ideal of Human Unitymany similar large units. The old richness of small units whichgave such splendid cultural, but such unsatisfactory politicalresults in Greece, Italy and India was lost, but the principle oflife made vivid by variative diversity was preserved with nationsfor the diverse units and the cultural life of a continent forthe common background. Here nothing of the kind is possible.There will be a sole unity, the world-nation; all outer sourceof diversity will disappear. Therefore the inner source has tobe modified indeed, subordinated in some way, but preservedand encouraged to survive. It may be that this will not happen;the unitarian idea may forcefully prevail and turn the existingnations into mere geographical provinces or administrative departmentsof a single well-mechanised State. But in that case theoutraged need of life will have its revenge, either by a stagnation,a collapse and a detrition fruitful of new separations or by someprinciple of revolt from within. A gospel of Anarchism mightenforce itself, for example, and break down the world-order fora new creation. The question is whether there is not somewherea principle of unity in diversity by which this method of actionand reaction, creation and destruction, realisation and relapsecannot be, if not altogether avoided, yet mitigated in its actionand led to a more serene and harmonious working.