Automobile Quote by Booth Tarkington
“I'm not so sure he's wrong about automobiles," he said, "With all their speed forward they may be a step backward for civilization-that is, spiritual civilization ... But automobiles have come, and they bring a greater change in our life than most of us expect. They are here, and almost all outward things are going to be different because of what they bring. They are going to alter war, and they are going to alter peace.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington, 1918
Technological progress, like automobiles, can paradoxically regress societal and spiritual values despite material benefits.
In simple terms: Progress can cause moral decline.
Key Takeaway
Balance innovation with ethical reflection.
Themes
technology
society
spirituality
progress
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy making
- education curricula
- personal lifestyle choices
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
history
Questions to Reflect On
- What values risk loss with new tech?
- How can we guide progress ethically?
A Different Perspective
May reflect early 20th‑century bias; not all view tech negatively.
![“Far from being the crown of human thought and religion as its supporters have claimed for several bloody millennia, [monotheism] is in fact a monstrous step backwards--a step that has been responsible for more human misery than any other idea in known history.” quote by Isaac Bonewits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0eb/isaac-bonewits-49346_backwards_far-from-being-the-crown-of-human-though_419570.jpg)
