"Every step and every movement of the multitude, even in what are termed enlightened ages, are made with equal blindness to the future; and nations stumble upon establishments, which are indeed the result of human action, but not the execution of any human design"

In this quote, Adam Ferguson is highlighting the propensity of societies to act without thinking about the long-term repercussions of their actions. He argues that even in allegedly enlightened times, individuals are still blind to the future and make choices without fully understanding the potential results. As an outcome, countries typically stumble upon institutions and systems that are the item of human actions, but not always the deliberate execution of a particular human strategy. This suggests that societies are often formed by a combination of private actions and unpredicted situations, instead of purposeful design. Ferguson's words function as a cautionary pointer to consider the future ramifications of our present actions.