Besides,” said Kennedy, “that may prove to be a very dull…
““Besides,” said Kennedy, “that may prove to be a very dull period when industry will swallow up every thing for its own profit. By dint of inventing machinery, men will end in being eaten up by it! I have always fancied that the end of the earth will be when some enormous boiler, heated to three thousand millions of atmospheric pressure, shall explode and blow up our Globe!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Industrial progress may become so dominant that it consumes humanity, leading to catastrophic self‑destruction.
In simple terms: Technology can outpace and endanger its creators.
Key Takeaway
Beware of unchecked technological growth.
Themes
technology
industrialization
hubris
environment
future
Mood
cautionary
dramatic
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- policy making
- engineering ethics
- environmental activism
- future planning
Key Concepts
technological determinism
anthropocentrism
ecological collapse
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent technology from harming humanity?
- How can societies balance progress with precaution?
A Different Perspective
The quote dramatizes a worst‑case scenario, which may exaggerate realistic outcomes.