The Tragic Paradox of Our Times

 

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

 

We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less.

 

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.

 

We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less health.

 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

 

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

 

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.

 

We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

 

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,

but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour.

 

We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things. 

 

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. 

 

We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

 

We’ve built more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

 

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

 

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

 

Author unknown from Swami Chidanand Saraswati, 2006 Peace: For Ourselves, Our Families, Our Communities, & Our World of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh