The Paradox of Our Age

The Paradox of our Age

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;

We spend more, but have less;

We buy more, but enjoy it less;

We have bigger houses and smaller families;

More conveniences, but less time;

We have more degrees, but less sense;

More knowledge, but less judgment;

More experts, but more problems;

More medicine, but less wellness.

We spend too recklessly, laugh too little,

Drive too fast, get too angry too quickly,

Stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom,

Watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions,

But reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and lie too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life;

We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space;

It is a time when there is much in the show window,

And nothing in the stockroom.

by His Holiness The Dalai Lama

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