If mankind were to continue in other than the present barbarism

Clifford D. Simak, the weaver of worlds and prophet of futures unseen, once warned with solemn voice: “If mankind were to continue in other than the present barbarism, a new path must be found, a new civilization based on some other method than technology.” In these words lies not contempt for technology, but a piercing lament that humanity, though crowned with invention, still walks the road of savagery. He speaks of the paradox of our age: that we have built wonders that pierce the heavens, yet have not conquered the violence of our hearts.

For though the march of invention has carried us from the fire of the cave to the engines of the stars, we remain in danger of perishing by our own hands. Technology has given us abundance, yet greed devours the weak. It has given us communication, yet lies and hatred spread like wildfire. It has given us weapons beyond imagining, yet war continues to stain the earth with blood. This is the barbarism Simak condemns: the ancient cruelty dressed now in modern armor, unchanged in spirit though amplified in power.

History reveals this sorrow with brutal clarity. In 1945, the splitting of the atom promised endless energy, light for cities, and power for generations. Yet the first great fruits of this discovery were not gardens of peace, but the firestorms of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The same genius that unlocked the mysteries of the universe unleashed horror upon humankind. In this moment, the world saw the truth Simak described: that technology alone does not make us civilized. Without wisdom, without compassion, it becomes only another mask for barbarism.

Yet Simak does not despair entirely. His words call for a new path, a civilization founded not merely upon tools, but upon higher principles: empathy, justice, and unity. For if the heart of man remains savage, no machine can save him; but if the heart of man learns compassion, then even the simplest tools can build a golden age. His vision is that of a humanity that rises above violence and greed, finding a way to live not by domination, but by harmony — a civilization defined not by what it builds, but by how it treats its own.

We have glimpses of this higher road in history as well. Consider Ashoka the Great, conqueror of India, who after the carnage of Kalinga, turned away from war and embraced the path of peace and dharma. He built not more armies, but schools, hospitals, and roads to serve the people. His reign became a beacon, remembered not for the blood he spilled, but for the compassion he nurtured. Ashoka found a new path, proving that civilization need not be measured only by conquest or invention, but by the elevation of the human spirit.

The lesson of Simak’s words is thus: do not mistake progress of technology for progress of the soul. We must labor not only in laboratories and factories, but in our own hearts. To build a true civilization, we must temper invention with morality, power with restraint, and brilliance with kindness. Without this balance, the future will be only a brighter cage for the same ancient savagery. With this balance, however, the future can be radiant beyond imagining.

Therefore, let the listener act: use the tools of technology, but do not worship them. Measure progress not by speed, power, or wealth, but by compassion, justice, and the bonds of community. Seek not only to invent, but to heal; not only to build, but to uplift. For as Clifford D. Simak has spoken, if mankind is to rise beyond barbarism, it will not be through machines alone, but through the transformation of the human heart. This is the true path, the new civilization that awaits those who dare to walk it.