"fortunately for mankind, the more useful, or, at least, more necessary arts can be performed without superior talents or national subordination; without the powers of one or the union of many. each village, each family, each individual, must always possess both ability and inclination to perpetuate the use of fire and of metals; the propagation and service of domestic animals; the methods of hunting and fishing; the rudiments of navigation; the imperfect cultivation of corn or other nutritive grain; and the simple practice of the mechanical trades. private genius and public industry may be extirpated; but these hardy plants survive the tempest, and strike an everlasting root into the most unfavourable soil...since the first discovery of the arts, war, commerce, and religious zeal have diffused, among the savages of the old and new world, these inestimable gifts have been successfully propagated; they can never be lost." -edward gibbon (1781)
game over, future generations!
11.29.2011
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