The paradox of our time in history is that we
have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we
spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it 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, but more
problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast,
get angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too
much, and pray too seldom.
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
the new neighbor. 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 split the atom, but not our
prejudice.
We write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush,
but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; we have more food, but less
appeasement; we build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than
ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep
profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic
warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of 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.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time
when technology has brought this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to
make a difference, or to just hit delete...
By Dr. Bob Moorehead
(NOT
written by George Carlin)
Upon seeking the most complete and accurate version of
"The Paradox Of Our Time", I compiled the above edition from a few different
versions I found on the Internet:
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