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,
throw-away 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 thought to you, and a time when you
can choose either to share this insight, or to just
hit back.
