The paradox of our time in history is
...that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses
and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees,
but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more
problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too
much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry
too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch
TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but
reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to
life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered
outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better
things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the
atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more,
but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more
computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but
have less communication. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure,
but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of
two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These
are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night
stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet,
to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing
in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just
hit delete.
