Civilization Itself . . . Can Easily

Impartial Observers From Other Planets Would Consider Ours An Utterly Bizarre Enclave If It Were Populated By Birds, Defined As Flying Animals, That Nevertheless Rarely Or Never Actually Flew. They Would Also Be Perplexed If They Encountered In Our Seas, Lakes, Rivers, And Ponds, Creatures Defined As Swimmers That Never Did Any Swimming. But They Would Be Even More Surprised To Encounter A Species Defined As A Thinking Animal If, In Fact, The Creature Very Rarely Indulged In Actual Thinking.

Ideas Have Consequences, And Totally Erroneous Ideas Are Likely To Have Destructive Consequences.

Sometimes Things Which At The Moment May Be Perceived As Obstacles-and Actually Be Obstacles, Difficulties, Or Drawbacks-can In The Long Run Result In Some Good End Which Would Not Have Occurred If It Had Not Been For The Obstacle.

This Is The Tonight Show. I Can't Tell You Too Much About It, Other Than The Fact That This Program Is Going To Go On Forever.

The Problem Is That Once The Untrained Mind Has Made A Formal Commitment To A Religious Philosophy - And It Does Not Matter Whether That Philosophy Is Generally Reasonable And High-minded Or Utterly Bizarre And Irrational