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Art Quote by George Bernard Shaw

“In the arts of life, man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery all the slaughter of plague, pestilence, and famine.” quote by George Bernard Shaw
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“In the arts of life, man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery all the slaughter of plague, pestilence, and famine.”

George Bernard Shaw

About This Quote

Human ingenuity creates tools for survival, yet it also engineers mass destruction through technology, surpassing natural calamities.

In simple terms: Technology amplifies both creation and annihilation.

Key Takeaway

Progress can be a double‑edged sword.

Themes

ethics technology human nature war environment science

Mood

cautionary critical somber

Type

aphorism warning philosophical

When to use this quote

  • military development
  • industrial production of weapons
  • pandemic response planning
  • environmental crisis management

Key Concepts

innovation destruction responsibility societal impact

Practical Applications

  • policy regulation of hazardous technologies
  • ethical review of scientific research

Questions to Reflect On

  • How should societies balance scientific advancement with moral safeguards?
  • What mechanisms can prevent misuse of powerful technologies?
A Different Perspective

Some argue that technology merely magnifies pre‑existing human tendencies, not creates new capacities for mass death.

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