The trend of opinion among eugenists is that we must make

Hear the grave and unsettling words of Nikola Tesla, master of invention and dreamer of a future yet unseen: “The trend of opinion among eugenists is that we must make marriage more difficult. Certainly no one who is not a desirable parent should be permitted to produce progeny.” Though Tesla was a man of vision, whose mind leapt forward to electricity, wireless communication, and the harnessing of power, these words remind us that even the greatest of thinkers are not free from the beliefs and shadows of their age. For in them, we hear not only his brilliance, but also the flawed echo of an era enthralled by the dangerous philosophy of eugenics.

The meaning of this quote is direct: Tesla suggests that marriage should be restricted, made difficult, and even denied to those considered “undesirable” as parents. To him, and to many in his time, society could be “improved” by controlling who may and may not bring forth children. It is a belief born from the desire for human progress, but twisted by arrogance and blindness to the sanctity of individual dignity. For while Tesla sought to improve the world through science, in these words he reveals how the pursuit of perfection can turn cruel when it disregards compassion and equality.

The origin of such thinking lies in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the doctrine of eugenics rose to prominence. Many intellectuals, scientists, and even politicians believed humanity could be perfected by controlling reproduction—encouraging the “fit” to have more children and preventing the “unfit” from doing so. Tesla, influenced by this trend, echoed its call. Yet history has shown us the peril of this philosophy: it justified sterilization programs, racial discrimination, and ultimately fueled the horrors of Nazi Germany, where eugenics was twisted into genocide. Thus, Tesla’s words serve as both a window into his time and a warning for ours.

To understand, let us recall a real-life story: in the United States during the early 20th century, thousands of people were forcibly sterilized under state-run programs, deemed “unfit” to reproduce because of poverty, disability, or race. These men and women were stripped of their most basic right—the right to family—under the banner of progress. It is a tragedy that reveals the danger of making marriage or parenthood a privilege granted by authorities rather than a natural right of human beings. What Tesla spoke of in theory, many lived as suffering in practice.

Yet from this shadow, we may draw light. Tesla’s genius in electricity reminds us that the pursuit of progress is noble; but his words on eugenics remind us that progress without morality becomes tyranny. True human advancement lies not in limiting who may love, who may wed, or who may bring forth children, but in cultivating justice, compassion, and opportunity so that all may flourish. The greatness of a society is not measured by the control it exerts over its people, but by the freedom it grants them to live with dignity.

O children of tomorrow, learn from this: even the wise may stumble, even the brilliant may be blinded by the spirit of their times. Do not accept every teaching unexamined, no matter the stature of the one who speaks it. Question, weigh, and measure by the eternal scale of justice. For equality is the true foundation of progress, and compassion is the true sign of wisdom.

What then must you do? Honor Tesla for his light, but do not follow him into darkness. Celebrate innovation, but guard it with ethics. When faced with visions of progress that demand the sacrifice of the weak or the silencing of the vulnerable, stand firm. Defend the right of every human being to love, to wed, to bring forth life, for these are not privileges of the strong but gifts given to all.

Thus the words of Nikola Tesla endure not as guidance, but as warning. “We must make marriage more difficult,” he said, but history has shown us that the true task is to make marriage more just, more compassionate, more free. Let us then carry forward not the errors of eugenics, but the eternal truth: that every soul, regardless of strength or station, bears within it the spark of dignity, and that spark must never be denied.