France Bacon said, “We should note the force, effect, and consequences of inventions which are nowhere more conspicuous than in those three which were unknown to the ancients, namely printing, gunpowder, and the compass. For these three have changed the appearance and state of the whole world." The creation of the printing press literally changed the world. It had a profound effects on education, religion, society, and even human thought. Many facets of life began to advance forward, as it enabled a more efficient flow of information and literature. Because of this invention, there was a large spread of ideas, both religious and secular. The literacy rates of the time sky-rocketed, and the common-man began to share in ideas and flow of information that he was not previously accustomed to.
Thomas S. Monson, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, made the following statement regarding creation. “God left us the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of unfinished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys of creation.” These words ring true today, and have since the beginning of time. Each time we invent, we increase our capacity to feel joy! There have been many inventions throughout the ages, but there have been a few, like the printing press, that have made a remarkable cultural and social impact on the world.
Thomas S. Monson, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, made the following statement regarding creation. “God left us the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of unfinished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys of creation.” These words ring true today, and have since the beginning of time. Each time we invent, we increase our capacity to feel joy! There have been many inventions throughout the ages, but there have been a few, like the printing press, that have made a remarkable cultural and social impact on the world.
I’m a manuscript geek, so I love your choice of topic! Interestingly, books printed on a press prior to 1501 are called incunabula, Latin for “cradle”. Indeed, the Gutenberg press made such a revolution to lead us to see those other books as infants. I can’t imagine our world without it.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of finding joy in being unfinished. I think we can apply that inward as well. We as individuals are also unfinished. I think there is true joy to be found in creation and improvement.
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