The future of humanity is uncertain, even in the most prosperous countries, and the quality of life deteriorates; and yet I believe that what is being discovered about the infinitely large and infinitely small is sufficient to absolve this end of the century and millennium. What a very few are acquiring in knowledge of the physical world will perhaps cause this period not to be judged as a pure return of barbarism.

Summary

The quote suggests that despite the uncertainties and declining quality of life, the advancements in understanding the universe on both macro and micro levels can redeem the present time from being considered a regressive era. The speaker believes that the knowledge gained about the infinitely large (cosmos) and the infinitely small (quantum realm) has the potential to elevate the current period beyond mere societal decay and chaos. It implies that scientific discoveries have the power to mitigate the negative aspects of the future and bring about progress for humanity.

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