Status Updates From Heretics

"But if we look at the progress of our scientific civilization, we see a gradual increase everywhere of the specialist over the popular function. Once, men sang together around the table in chorus. Now, one man sings alone, for the absurd reason that he can sing better. If scientific civilization goes on—which is most improbable—only one man will laugh, because he can laugh better than the rest."

Immediately a favorite Chesterton of mine.

"There cannot be any better proof of the physical efficiency of a man than that he talks cheerfully of a journey to the end of the world. And there cannot be any better proof of the practical efficiency of a nation than that it talks constantly of a journey to the end of the world: a journey to the judgement day and the new Jerusalem."