Westward the star of empire takes its way.

Westward the star of empire takes its way.

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.

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

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

So long as all the increased wealth which modern progress brings,
goes but to build up great fortunes, to read more

So long as all the increased wealth which modern progress brings,
goes but to build up great fortunes, to increase luxury, and make
sharper the contest between the House of Have and the House of
Want, progress is not real and cannot be permanent.

Doubt can only be removed by action.

Doubt can only be removed by action.

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.

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.

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

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

Progress has not followed a straight ascending line, but a spiral
with rhythms of progress and retrogression, of evolution read more

Progress has not followed a straight ascending line, but a spiral
with rhythms of progress and retrogression, of evolution and
dissolution.