Air Quote by Jerome Lawrence
“Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and says, "All right, you can have a telephone but you lose privacy and the charm of distance. Madam, you may vote but at a price. You lose the right to retreat behind the powder puff or your petticoat. Mister, you may conquer the air but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline."”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Price of Progress, Jerome Lawrence, 1962
Advancement costs freedom and wonder; every gain carries hidden sacrifices.
In simple terms: Progress demands sacrifice; lose some freedoms.
Key Takeaway
Recognize trade‑offs of progress.
Themes
progress
trade‑offs
freedom
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
activist
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- innovation planning
- personal decisions
- education curricula
Key Concepts
technological change
social cost
environmental impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What freedoms are we willing to trade?
- How do we mitigate negative side‑effects?
A Different Perspective
Not all sacrifices are equally distributed.
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