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, eat 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.
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