It is marvelous indeed to watch on television the rings of Saturn close; and to speculate on what we may yet find at galaxy's edge. But in the process, we have lost the human element; not to mention the high hope of those quaint days when flight would create one world. Instead of one world, we have star wars, and a future in which dumb dented human toys will drift mindlessly about the cosmos long after our small planet's dead.

Summary

This quote highlights the speaker's awe for the wonders of space exploration, particularly the visuals technology has brought us. However, it also expresses a concern that with this technological focus, we have forgotten the importance of human connection and unity. The mention of "quaint days" alludes to a time when flight was seen as a unifying force, whereas now we face the threat of conflicts like "star wars." The last part of the quote pictures a future where humanity's achievements become insignificant compared to the aimless drifting of machines in a dead world.

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