Though the first prohibitions separated a man from his animal condition, others can be more harmful. The instinctual wishes which are born in every child, can cause some people, neurotics, to act in a asocial way towards these prohibitions as a way of defense. Some prohibitions from the past used to be part of a civilization, but are prohibited now; and some ordinary daily activities from today might be prohibited in the years to come. This leads to "the external coercion eventually becoming internalized, and this turns people into the vehicles of civilization." The extent to which coercion has become internalized shows the moral level of a person. While there are many people who would turn away from murder, they do not deny themselves the satisfaction it would bring, and if they could get away without being punished for it, they would most likely take that offer. Adding on to the moral level are the assets of such a culture, where the first achievements are to be held ideal, and to be used to look down on other cultures. The other asset is the satisfaction gained through art. It serves "to reconcile a man to the sacrifices he has made on behalf of civilization." The art forms a feeling of identification, and provides an occasion for sharing these emotional experiences. .
Freud then goes into the way religion developed starting with the nature's imput on it. The cruel nature and its undefeated power of destroying us when it wishes, makes life a hard one. It is these powers of destruction as well as the uncertainty of death that reminds us of our weaknesses and helplessness. The prohibitions brought in by civilization and the sufferings brought on by imperfections of civilization are just an additive of the weakness against the untamed nature. Fate, considered as the injury inflicted on people by nature, makes us look for some kind of consolation, as well as an answer to the curious questions.