--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ingenious to their ruin, every age…" description: "\"Ingenious to their ruin, every age improves the art and instruments of rage.\" — Edmund Waller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/000/edmund-waller-11162_age_ingenious-to-their-ruin-every-age-improv_2246372.png" --- # Ingenious to their ruin, every age improves the art and… ![“Ingenious to their ruin, every age improves the art and instruments of rage.” quote by Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/000/edmund-waller-11162_age_ingenious-to-their-ruin-every-age-improv_2246372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/000/edmund-waller-11162_age_ingenious-to-their-ruin-every-age-improv_2246372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/000/edmund-waller-11162_age_ingenious-to-their-ruin-every-age-improv_2246372.png) > “Ingenious to their ruin, every age improves the art and instruments of rage.” [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human progress often creates tools that amplify conflict, leading to self‑destruction. **In simple terms:** Advancement can fuel aggression. Key Takeaway Beware how innovation can increase violence. Themes war technology progress self‑destruction Mood thoughtful cautious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - military development - political policy - social media - environmental exploitation Key Concepts philosophy history ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can progress be guided responsibly? - What safeguards exist? A Different Perspective Not all advancements are harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Ingenious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenious/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [One's doing well if age improves even slightly one's capacity to hold on to that vital truism: "This too shall pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/one-s-doing-well-if-age-improves-even-slightly-one-s-capacity-to-hold/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He created us through the long and complex process of Natural and Sexual Selection, which is none other than His ingenious device for instilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/he-created-us-through-the-long-and-complex-process-of-natural-and/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I have the vagary of taking a lively interest in mathematical subjects only where I may anticipate ingenious association of ideas and results recommending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/i-have-the-vagary-of-taking-a-lively-interest-in-mathematical/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) > [Yet he saw that in all places there was originality, resulting from the human efforts at decoration and ingenious methods of survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-he-saw-that-in-all-places-there-was-originality-resulting-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being able to see and recombine existing assets and know-how in new ways allows us to take an 'ingenious approach to innovation' - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-engelbert/being-able-to-see-and-recombine-existing-assets-and-know-how-in-new/) [Cathy Engelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-engelbert/) > [Leon Theremin's original designs are elegant, ingenious and effective. 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Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Before I went to bed, I sat up till 2 a-clock in my chamber, reading of Mr. Hooke's Microscopical Observations, the most ingenious book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/before-i-went-to-bed-i-sat-up-till-2-a-clock-in-my-chamber-reading-of/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [If we would have anything of benefit, we must earn it, and earning it become shrewd, inventive, ingenious, active, enterprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-we-would-have-anything-of-benefit-we-must-earn-it-and-earning-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/tell-me-o-muse-of-that-ingenious-hero-who-travelled-far-and-wide/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Every peasant cuisine has incredible ingenious tricks for getting a lot of nutrition out of a small amount of ingredients. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/every-peasant-cuisine-has-incredible-ingenious-tricks-for-getting-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## More by Edmund Waller > [Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view, That stand upon the threshold of the new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/leaving-the-old-both-worlds-at-once-they-view-that-stand-upon-the/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. Where love presides, not vice alone does find, No entrance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practice-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Soft words, with nothing in them, make a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/soft-words-with-nothing-in-them-make-a-song/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Music so softens and disarms the mind That not an arrow does resistance find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/music-so-softens-and-disarms-the-mind-that-not-an-arrow-does/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze; but time and thunder pay respect to bays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/lampoons-like-squibs-may-make-a-present-blaze-but-time-and-thunder/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [The fear of Hell, or aiming to be blest, Savors too much of private interest. This moved not Moses, nor the zealous Paul, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-fear-of-hell-or-aiming-to-be-blest-savors-too-much-of-private/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [All things but one you can restore; the heart you get returns no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/all-things-but-one-you-can-restore-the-heart-you-get-returns-no-more/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [To man, that was in th' evening made, Stars gave the first delight; Admiring, in the gloomy shade, Those little drops of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/to-man-that-was-in-th-evening-made-stars-gave-the-first-delight/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [What use of oaths, of promise, or of test, where men regard no God but interest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/what-use-of-oaths-of-promise-or-of-test-where-men-regard-no-god-but/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [And as pale sickness does invade, Your frailer part, the breaches made, In that fair lodging still more clear, Make the bright guest, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/and-as-pale-sickness-does-invade-your-frailer-part-the-breaches-made/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Fade, flowers, fade! Nature will have it so; 'tis but what we in our autumn do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/fade-flowers-fade-nature-will-have-it-so-tis-but-what-we-in-our/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [For all we know Of what the blessed do above Is, that they sing, and that they love. While I listen to thy Voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/for-all-we-know-of-what-the-blessed-do-above-is-that-they-sing-and/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Virtue's a stronger guard than brass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/virtue-s-a-stronger-guard-than-brass/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Others may use the ocean as their road; Only the English make it their abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/others-may-use-the-ocean-as-their-road-only-the-english-make-it-their/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practise love, We should agree as angels do above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practise-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) [Explore all 61 Edmund Waller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." 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