Sudden disaster brings out the best - and the worst - of human nature. Crisis strips away social conventions such as politeness and leaves no time for hypocrisy. The world is learning that lesson again this week as individual stories begin to emerge from the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster.
Salvage efforts resumed yesterday off the Tuscan coast, where the ship foundered last Friday. The death toll may pass 30.
The first victim identified, musician Sandor Feher, will be well-remembered: another player in the ship's orchestra saw him putting life jackets on several crying children; then he went below deck for his own baby, his beloved violin. He was not seen again.
Another musician, drummer Giuseppe Girolamo, is still missing after having given up his lifeboat spot to a child. Passenger Francis Servel, 71, gave his life-jacket to his wife Nicole, 61. She lived, he did not.
Tales of villainy may also emerge, human nature being what it is. Who among us can say with certainty how we would react in such a test?