In the course of life it is natural that a sane human will compare themselves to those around them. In so doing they will rank themselves by many different criteria. Some of these criteria will be subject to change, others will be immutable. For most if not all of the criteria used the human in question will find that some people rank higher then themselves. It is again natural that they will seek to remediate those criteria in which they consider themselves to be of lower rank.

For dealing with those criteria which are immutable there exist two basic strategies. One can seek to adapt to the characteristic and so turn it into a strength. The other alternative is to seek to make of it a source of sympathy, thereby enticing others to offset its shortcomings.

For dealing with those criteria which are mutable there again exist to basic strategies. One can seek to build oneself up or to tear others down. Lazy people will tend to adopt the latter approach.

In both cases the difference lies in improving oneself or using others in an attempt to improve ones standing. Civilization is built by those that seek to turn immutable characteristics into strengths and to build themselves up rather than tear others down. Sadly it is the nature of civilization that it makes life easier for both types of humans. Thus it is those that seek to improve themselves at the expense of others that destroy civilizations.