"Men are only as good as their technical development allows them to be"

George Orwell’s observation foregrounds the intrinsic relationship between humanity’s moral or ethical capacity and the level of technological advancement people have achieved. Implicit in his statement is the argument that ethical action and societal progress are bounded, perhaps even dictated, by the tools and techniques available at a given time. A person or society’s ability to do “good”, to alleviate suffering, organize fairly, act with compassion, or uphold justice, is limited to what their technology empowers them to envision and accomplish.

Looking through history, societies bound by rudimentary tools and limited communication had little scope for organizing complex philanthropic ventures, universal education, or public health initiatives. Only with the advent of the printing press did widespread literacy move beyond an elite few, opening doors for political participation and the spread of new philosophies. Later, the telegraph and telephone dissolved geographic boundaries, altering how empathy and ethical responsibility could be extended. Technology like vaccines increased life expectancy, enabling humanity to focus beyond sheer survival.

Orwell’s assertion can also serve as a caution. Rather than implying that technological progress guarantees moral improvement, it draws attention to the way social ideals are shaped, constrained, and sometimes corrupted by the means at society’s disposal. Without adequate technical understanding, benevolent intentions can falter or lead to unintended consequences.

Additionally, technological development is not separate from humanity’s moral direction; the tools we create are driven by values and, in turn, reshape those values. The digital era offers tools capable of connecting and informing billions, but also presents unprecedented opportunities for manipulation and harm. Concerns around privacy, surveillance, and artificial intelligence powerfully illustrate Orwell’s meaning: new abilities demand new frameworks of ethical conduct.

Ultimately, Orwell prompts us to consider how the frontiers of technical innovation don’t merely expand what we can do, but actively redefine what we mean by “goodness” and the paths open to human decency. Responsibility, therefore, lies in aligning technological development with genuine moral progress.