"Man hasn't any enemies," said Ash, "except the ones he's made."
"The galaxy is waiting for us to crack," said Adams. "Waiting to close in at the first faint sign of weakness."
"That's because we taught them it," said Sutton. "They watched us use their own weaknesses to push them off their feet."
"What will this destiny do?" asked Adams.
"It will teach Man humility," said Sutton. "Humility and responsibility."
"It's not a religion," said Adams. "That's what Raven told me. But it sounds like a religion…with all that humility pother."
"Dr. Raven was right," Sutton told him. "It's not a religion. Destiny and religions could flourish side by side and exist in perfect peace. They do not encroach upon one another. Rather, they would complement one another. Destiny stands for the same things most religions stand for and it holds out no promise of an afterlife. It leaves that to religion."
"Ash," said Adams quietly, "you have read your history."
Sutton nodded.
"Think back," said Adams. "Remember the crusades. Remember the rise of Mohammedanism. Remember Cromwell in England. Remember Germany and America. And Russia and America. Religion and ideas, Ash. Religion and ideas. Man will fight for an idea when he wouldn't lift a hand for land or life or honor. But an idea…that's a different thing."