Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Technology and warfare may outpace humanity's ability to sustain civilization.
In plain terms
War tech could destroy us faster than we can build.
What can you take from it?
Destructive power may exceed creative capacity.

Where it applies

  • discussing arms races
  • environmental collapse
  • tech ethics

Putting it to work

  • invest in peace
  • regulate weapon tech
  • prioritize creation

Questions to consider

  • Can we control the tech we create?
  • Is progress inherently risky?

Another view

Humanity has survived past destructive peaks before.

More from David Mitchell

  1. 'Diplomacy: it mops up war's spillages; legitimises its outcomes; gives the strong state the means to impose its will on a weaker one, while saving its fleets …

    Permalink to quote #12
  2. 'History has no rules, only outcomes. What precipitates outcomes? Vicious acts and virtuous acts. What precipitates acts? Belief.' ?( p.528)

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. 'Another war is always coming: They are never properly extinguished. What sparks war? The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, …

    Permalink to quote #11

Related quotes

  1. The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing practica…

    Karl von ClausewitzKarl von Clausewitz quote #6
  2. In war, science has proven itself an evil genius; it has made war more terrible than it ever was before. Man used to be content to slaughter his fellowmen on a…

    William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan quote #8
  3. War triggers human inventiveness at the most brilliant, because if you don't win your wars, your civilization disappears -Empire

    Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card quote #1094