“Life may be defined to be the power of self-augmentation or assimilation, not of self-nurture; for then a steam-engine over a coal-pit might be made to live.” MayMadeSelfMightDefinedEnginesNurtureCoalPitsSteamAssimilationSteam Engines Book:Guesses at Truth Source: Guesses at Truth
“Machiavelli, however, took his bearings from people as they are. He defined the political project as making the best of this flawed material. He knew (in words Kant would write almost three centuries later) that nothing straight would be made from the crooked timber of humanity.” PeopleWritingMadeWould BePoliticalHumanityThreeCenturyMaterialsProjectsDefinedFlawedCrookedTimber Author:George Will