Freedom from labor itself is not new; it once belonged among the most firmly established privileges of the few. In this instance, it seems as though scientific progress and technical developments had been only taken advantage of to achieve something about which all former ages dreamed but which none had been able to realize.

Summary

The quote highlights the historical context of labor and freedom. It suggests that in the past, only a privileged few had the freedom to avoid labor. However, with scientific and technological advancements, society has been able to use them to achieve a long-standing aspiration that previous generations had dreamed of but couldn't accomplish. It implies that these developments have opened doors to a new level of freedom, where more people can now escape labor and its associated burdens.

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