Eventually all charm and magic go out of a situation, and the enterprise becomes machinated. Fear takes over, in the mind that notices the dwindling of general good will. It becomes the objective to simply avoid disaster, rather than imbue light and kindness. In a society that’s already dangerous, the suspicion of impending disaster tends to be heightened.
This is, basically, what can make people question whether there is a purpose to life — the sort of cold and rote, repetitive activities a society must orchestrate. Yet, it is also these organized aspects, theoretically, that keep us from being beasts, that give us structure.
The primary mistake, it seems, is looking for an ultimate end of goodness within life, having not to do with temporary self-expression, which is righteous, but continual reward, which is imaginary.