Is it progress if a cannibal uses a knife and fork?

Is it progress if a cannibal uses a knife and fork?

And striving to be Man, the worm
Mounts through all the spires of form.

And striving to be Man, the worm
Mounts through all the spires of form.

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

From lower to the higher next,
Not to the top, is Nature's text;
And embryo good, to read more

From lower to the higher next,
Not to the top, is Nature's text;
And embryo good, to reach full stature,
Absorbs the evil in its nature.

I have seen that Man moves over with each new generation into a
bigger body, more awful, more reverent read more

I have seen that Man moves over with each new generation into a
bigger body, more awful, more reverent and more free than he has
had before.

Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.

Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to read more

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.

There is no advancement to him who stands trembling because he cannot see the end from the beginning.

There is no advancement to him who stands trembling because he cannot see the end from the beginning.

Like plants in mines, which never saw the sun,
But dream of him, and guess where he may be,
read more

Like plants in mines, which never saw the sun,
But dream of him, and guess where he may be,
And do the best to climb, and get to him.