The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself.
C. Northcote ParkinsonRead
The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom.
Interpretation
Automation can lead to a loss of engagement and excitement in life.
C. Northcote Parkinson's quote reflects on the consequences of an automated society, suggesting that while technology and automation can simplify tasks, they also risk creating a sense of ennui and disconnection among individuals. This commentary highlights the importance of human engagement and the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on technology, emphasizing that in the quest for efficiency, we may lose the vibrancy of life.
In practice
In a speech about the impact of technological advances on daily life.
The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself.
The man who is denied the opportunity of taking decisions of importance begins to regard as important the decisions he is allowed to take.
Delay is the deadliest form of denial.
Parkinson's First Law: Work expands to fill the time available.
Government power must be dispersed. If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the state than in Washington. If I do not like what my local community does, be it in sewage disposal, or zoning, or schools, I can move to another local community, and though few may take this step, the mere possibility acts as a check. If I do not like what Washington imposes, I have few alternatives in this world of jealous nations.
Our life is always deeper than we know, is always more divine than it seems, and hence we are able to survive degradations and despairs which otherwise must engulf us.
When we blame all Muslims, all Syrians, or all members of any other group because of the actions of individuals, we fall into the trap of asserting collective guilt. We empower the narrow-minded ideology that we are trying to defeat.
When someone tells you they’ve just bought a house, they might as well tell you they no longer have a personality. You can immediately assume so many things: that they’re locked into jobs they hate; that they’re broke; that they spend every night watching videos; that they’re fifteen pounds overweight; that they no longer listen to new ideas. It’s profoundly depressing.
The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things... The complete whole is the complete whole. So also is any part the complete whole... But forget about understanding and harmonizing and making all things one. The universe is already a harmonious oneness; just realize it.
God is not external to anyone, but is present with all things, though they are ignorant that He is so.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.