Despite advances achieved through objective scientific…
“Despite advances achieved through objective scientific investigation, and the breaking down of long-standing fears and superstitions, the world is still not a reasonable place. Many attempts to make it so have failed because of selfish individual and national interests.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Even with scientific progress, selfish interests keep societies unreasonable.
In simple terms: Science alone can’t fix greed.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic selfishness.
Themes
social justice
science vs. society
human nature
Mood
critical
optimistic
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- community projects
- education curricula
Key Concepts
systems theory
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we align personal incentives with collective good?
- What role should science play in ethics?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted self‑interest is hard.