Advancement Quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Using an artful tool does not make one a dry technician. It seems to me that people that are anxious about our technical advancement, confuse means and ends. Naturally a person that only works for material gain will not harvest something that is worth living for. But the machine is not an end in itself. The airplane is not an end. It is a tool. Just like the plough.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Wind, the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry, 1943
Tools are means, not ends; focusing on purpose over technology prevents ethical drift.
In simple terms: Tools serve goals.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize purpose over tools.
Themes
ethics
technology
purpose
Mood
thoughtful
cautionary
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- engineering projects
- AI development
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
philosophy
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- What ends do your tools serve?
- How to keep technology aligned with human values?
A Different Perspective
Tools can become idols, obscuring values.
