Many people see technology as the problem behind the so-called

Hear now the words of Carly Fiorina, a leader who once stood at the helm of Hewlett-Packard, gazing across the stormy seas of a rapidly changing age. She declared: “Many people see technology as the problem behind the so-called digital divide. Others see it as the solution. Technology is neither. It must operate in conjunction with business, economic, political, and social systems.” These words are not to be read lightly, for they echo the wisdom of balance, reminding us that no single force—however powerful—can by itself save or doom humanity. Technology is but a tool; it is the hand that holds it, the heart that guides it, and the society that shapes it which determine its destiny.

In her words lies the rebuke of two extremes. On one side, there are those who curse technology, seeing it as the cause of inequality, alienation, and division. On the other, there are those who bow before it as a god, believing it alone will solve poverty, ignorance, and suffering. But Fiorina, like a wise elder, cuts through illusion: the truth lies in context, not in absolutes. A sword may defend the weak or oppress them, a pen may enlighten or deceive, and so too technology is shaped by the systems within which it dwells.

History itself testifies to this. Consider the printing press, wrought by Gutenberg’s hand. Was it good? Was it evil? Alone, it was neither. In the hands of scholars, it spread learning across Europe, fueling the Renaissance and the Reformation. In the hands of tyrants, it spread propaganda and stoked wars. The device itself was neutral, but the social, political, and economic systems surrounding it determined whether it was used to liberate or to enslave.

So it is today with the digital divide. In lands where wealth, governance, and education are woven tightly together, technology blossoms, connecting people and sparking innovation. But in places where corruption, poverty, and neglect reign, the same devices lie silent, gathering dust, or worse, serve only to deepen the gulf between the privileged and the forgotten. Thus, Fiorina reminds us that to heal division, we must not worship the tool alone, but shape the fields in which it is planted.

One must also look to the tale of the telegraph in the 19th century. It promised to shrink the world, to bring distant nations closer than ever before. Yet, without fair trade and diplomacy, it was also used to hasten imperial conquest, carrying orders of domination across continents. The technology itself was no savior; it was the economic and political systems that determined whether it bore peace or oppression. So too must we beware today when speaking of the internet, artificial intelligence, and all the wonders of the modern age.

The lesson, O seeker of wisdom, is that every good idea and every new invention must be embedded within just and healthy systems. It is not enough to place a computer in the hands of a child if no teacher stands to guide him, if no opportunity awaits him when he learns, if no justice exists to protect the fruits of his knowledge. Technology, without righteous companions, will fail to close the gap of inequality.

Therefore, let your actions be guided by this truth: do not trust in technology alone, nor despair of it as a curse. Instead, labor to strengthen the business structures that create opportunity, the economic systems that provide equity, the political institutions that safeguard liberty, and the social frameworks that uplift all people. Only then will technology become a servant of justice and a bridge across the digital divide.

Take this wisdom to heart and pass it on: The plow is nothing without fertile soil, the lamp is nothing without oil, and the tool is nothing without a just hand to wield it. So too is technology nothing without the harmony of society. Shape the systems well, and the tools of tomorrow will shine as instruments of hope. Neglect them, and the brightest devices will only cast deeper shadows.