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We have usurped many of the powers we once ascribed to God. Fearful and unprepared, we have assumed lordship over the life or death of the whole world - of all living things. The danger and the glory and the choice rest finally in man. The test of his perfectibility is at hand. Having taken Godlike power, we must seek in ourselves for the responsibility and the wisdom we once prayed some deity might have. Man himself has become our greatest hazard and our only hope. So that today, St. John the apostle may well be paraphrased: In the end is the Word, and the Word is Man - and the Word is with Men.

John Steinbeck#39

HumanityPowerEthicsResponsibility

About this quote

What does it mean?
Humans have taken on divine power over life and death, requiring us to find wisdom internally.
In plain terms
We control life and death now so we must be wise ourselves.
What can you take from it?
Power without wisdom creates existential risk for humanity.

Where it applies

  • technological advancement
  • global policy
  • existential choice

Putting it to work

  • develop ethics
  • value wisdom
  • act responsibly

Questions to consider

  • Can we handle this power?
  • Who holds us accountable?

Another view

Humans may not be capable of such great responsibility.

More from John Steinbeck

  1. With humanity's long proud history of standing firm against natural enemies, sometimes in the face of almost certain defeat and extinction, we would be cowardl…

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  2. A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.

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  3. The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit - for gallantry in defeat - for courage, compassion…

    Permalink to quote #37

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