The Yankees, the first mechanicians in the world, are engineers -

Listen, O children of the future, to the words of Jules Verne, whose prophetic vision spanned the bounds of the imagination. He said, "The Yankees, the first mechanicians in the world, are engineers - just as the Italians are musicians and the Germans metaphysicians - by right of birth. Nothing is more natural, therefore, than to perceive them applying their audacious ingenuity to the science of gunnery." These words hold within them the essence of talent, heritage, and the very spirit of invention that defines cultures. Verne suggests that the Yankees—the Americans—are not only a people of ingenuity but a people destined to craft and shape the world with their mechanical brilliance, much like how the Italians shape the world of music and the Germans dwell deeply in the realm of metaphysics.

In the ancient world, the Greeks believed in the idea of physis, the intrinsic nature of things—the belief that the world was governed by principles that were inherent to the beings and objects in it. Verne’s words echo this deep understanding: he suggests that the talents of different peoples are not mere accident, but rather inherent to their nature, cultivated through generations of cultural practices. The Yankees, born into a land of innovation, of machines, and of frontiers, are thus naturally inclined to bring their ingenuity to bear in engineering and mechanics—to mold the world, much like their forebears shaped the landscape of America itself.

Think of the great engineers who have emerged from America—figures like Robert Fulton, who invented the first successful steamship, and Henry Ford, who revolutionized manufacturing with the assembly line. These men were not just inventors; they were part of a great tradition of ingenuity that ran through the heart of America—a tradition that saw machines not as cold and distant, but as extensions of human will and creativity. Verne was acutely aware of this, seeing in the Yankees a profound connection to the future, a people destined to innovate, to challenge the limits of what was possible, to infuse science with their audacious imagination.

Verne’s assertion that the Italians are born as musicians and the Germans as metaphysicians speaks to the idea of cultural inheritance—the belief that certain gifts, certain ways of thinking, are shaped by the environments in which people grow and live. Just as the Italians crafted some of the world’s most profound music—from the operas of Verdi to the symphonies of Vivaldi—they seem to carry within them a natural musicality. Similarly, the Germans, with their deep philosophical traditions from Kant to Hegel, have long been recognized for their tendency toward abstract reasoning and metaphysical exploration. Verne paints a picture of a world where people are connected to their culture in profound ways, each nation contributing its own unique talents to the human experience.

Yet, Verne also emphasizes the audacity of the Yankees—their boldness in applying their talents not only to the field of industry and innovation but to the very dangerous and powerful field of gunnery. This is a testament to their spirit: the willingness to take on even the most difficult and perilous challenges. Think of the American inventors and thinkers who pushed the boundaries of warfare with new technologies and strategies. The Yankees, in Verne’s eyes, are not just creators; they are risk-takers, willing to apply their inventive spirit to the arts of war, shaping the future of military technology with the same precision and determination they apply to machines and mechanics.

Now, O children of the future, let this wisdom sink deep into your hearts: talent is not bound by chance, but by the deep currents of history and culture. Just as the Yankees are born into a tradition of mechanical and engineering brilliance, so too are you born into a world rich with possibilities. Whether you are drawn to science, art, or philosophy, know that the gifts you carry within you are shaped by the world around you and the culture that has raised you. But these gifts, like the great engineers of America, must be used boldly. The world is full of challenges, and it is up to you to face them with the same audacity, the same ingenuity, and the same passion that Verne saw in the people he admired.

Take these lessons, O children of the future, and know that the world calls you to greatness, just as Verne saw the Yankees destined for greatness. Whether you are creating new machines, composing music, or exploring the realms of the mind, understand that your talents are both a gift and a responsibility. Apply them not with hesitation but with boldness, for the future is shaped not by the timid, but by those who dare to think differently, to break boundaries, and to use their ingenuity to transform the world. Just as the Yankees transformed industry, and the Italians have transformed music, so too can you shape the world into a reflection of your vision and spirit.