"Likewise nanotechnology will, once it gets under way, depend on the tools we have then and our ability to use them, and not on the steps that got us there"

This quote by K. Eric Drexler is describing the advancement of nanotechnology. He is recommending that the success of nanotechnology will depend on the tools and resources available at the time of its development, and not on the actions taken to get to that point. This indicates that the advancement of nanotechnology will be an ongoing process, and that the tools and resources readily available at the time of its development will be the most crucial consider its success. Drexler is recommending that the steps taken to get to the point of nanotechnology advancement are not as essential as the tools and resources available at the time of its development. This quote emphasizes the value of having the right tools and resources offered in order to effectively establish nanotechnology.