The skylines lit up at dead of night, the air-conditioning systems cooling empty hotels in the desert and artificial light in the middle of the day all have something both demented and admirable about them. The mindless luxury of a rich civilization, and yet of a civilization perhaps as scared to see the lights go out as was the hunter in his primitive night.

Summary

This quote highlights the paradoxical nature of modern civilization. It describes the extravagant displays of wealth and convenience, such as brightly lit skylines and air-conditioned empty hotels. While these extravagances can be seen as mindless luxury, there is also a underlying fear - reminiscent of our primitive ancestors - of losing that prosperity. The quote suggests that despite being part of a developed society, there is an underlying unease about the fragility of our comfort and the potential collapse of our civilization.

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