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Quote by Vannevar Bush

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As We May Think

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Vannevar Bush
Vannevar Bush

Vannevar Bush was a prominent American electrical engineer and scientist known for his work in analog computing and radar technology. He played a crucial role in the development of radar during World War II and was a strong advocate for scientific research and education. Bush served as the director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during the war, overseeing the scientific research and development efforts that led to the creation of radar and other critical technologies. more

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“My audience is the future of my nation and my species. Their reaction to death, and the beauty of this bird, will not leave my mind, even as I deliver some standard lecture on genetics for the next forty-fice minutes.”

“2. It only takes a few seconds to remember that our bodies are vibrant landscapes, worlds shaped by the forces of nature. Within each human are elements forged from ancient stars, rivers of blood reflecting the great waterways of earth, neural pathways branching like sprawling roots of forests, and electromagnetic waves humming in rhythm with invisible forces around us. We are simultaneously mountain, ocean, and sky; a microcosm, home to millions of organisms.”

“It only takes a few seconds to remember that our bodies are vibrant landscapes, worlds shaped by the forces of nature. Within each human are elements forged from ancient stars, rivers of blood reflecting the great waterways of earth, neural pathways branching like sprawling roots of forests, and electromagnetic waves humming in rhythm with invisible forces around us. We are simultaneously mountain, ocean, and sky; a microcosm, home to millions of organisms.”

“In the enigma of existence, nature becomes a wordless teacher whose very process serves as a path toward deeper knowledge and insight. Science seeks to understand nature through observation and measurement. Daoism seeks a way of life that is most natural (自然, Ziran), guided by an attunement to nature, the discernment of its patterns and the expression that follows.”

“I adopt a different path, one that unfolds horizontally.... Rather than framing humankind’s condition as a “fall”, I consider it a “straying”—a term whose roots can be traced back to the vulgar latin word “estragare” which translates to “wander out of bounds.” Language, as Daoism observes, deepens this estrangement by carving out distinctions, magnifying the sense of multiplicity and separateness. By systematically dissolving these conceptual edifices, we traverse the horizontal continuum, potentially unveiling a primordial state known as the uncarved wood(樸).”

“Artificial drugs or technological temptations hijack our natural reinforcement systems into believing we are meeting a goal that was important for survival. This deception increases their value and presence while reducing the importance of more beneficial interests. We can be like moths swarming an artificial light, believing it is the moon.”