"People like to imagine that because all our mechanical equipment moves so much faster, that we are thinking faster, too"

Christopher Morley’s observation points to a prevalent misconception in the modern era: the belief that accelerated technology somehow enhances the pace or depth of human thought. As machinery, vehicles, and communication tools revolutionized daily life, many assumed that these external improvements naturally translated to cognitive advancement. The rapid fluency with which one can send messages, traverse vast distances, or operate sophisticated devices creates an illusion of intellectual speed, as if the mind itself can process, analyze, and understand at the same breakneck pace.

However, Morley prompts a reflection on the fundamental distinction between the external and internal domains. Mechanical devices, cars, trains, telegraphs, computers, simply carry out tasks more efficiently than before, handling logistics and information at dizzying speeds. The human mind, by contrast, is grounded in biological and psychological limitations, relying on processes such as contemplation, memory, experience, and emotion. These processes do not obey the same laws as engines and circuits. The depth of critical thinking, the richness of creativity, and the wisdom of decision-making are not inherently enhanced by modern machinery. In many cases, overwhelming streams of information and the demand for instant responses can even impair thoughtful reflection and nuanced understanding.

Morley’s quote subtly criticizes the notion that progress in tools equates to progress in thought. It’s a reminder to pause and consider whether technological acceleration might, in fact, be distracting from thorough inquiry and genuine understanding. While machines can amplify productivity, they cannot substitute for the deliberate, sometimes slow, process of reasoning, learning, and growing intellectually. The progress of civilization depends not only on how quickly we do things, but on how well we think, consider, and choose. Fast machines may move us physically and connect us virtually, but genuine thought demands patience, attention, and sometimes, a refusal to be swept away by the relentless current of speed.