Clarke on Human Affairs

Arthur C Clarke, from Childhood's End, on the state of human affairs:

"I do not necessarily quarrel with Federation as an ultimate objective-though many of my supporters might not agree. But it must come from within-not be superimposed from without. We must work out our own destiny. There must be no more interference in human affairs!"

Sometimes, a chunk of tangible enlightenment jumps off the pages at me, and is a reassuring encouragement in such unstable times. Clarke is quite observant with an astute view that individuals must be left to make their own choices in life, for only by experiencing the consequences of our actions do we gain the knowledge to progress in life toward achievement, while intervention and prohibition prevents those learning experiences, and society suffers. Those who oppose intervention and actions by the state, like Clarke, are seeking progress from within. The state is simply unfit to exist.