Blue Highways: A Journey into America

by William Least Heat-Moon

“This is about the limited capacity of men to understand because they measure time in terms of themselves. This is about men who won’t see causes and therefore can’t predict effects. This is about men who fail to realize that geographical refuge is central to our history. It’s about men who exterminate the species of the earth at the rate of one every day.” He gave my shoulder another shake. “You see no worry in me because I know the natural amenities will finally be preserved for a single reason and for a single reason alone—the force of nature demands it. Its sway is greater than ours. We will have our time of destruction nevertheless. But, in a nutshell, that’s why I’m an optimist.” He released my shoulder. “And for one other reason.” “Which is?” “Accidents, discovery, even enlightenment. Any projection must allow for man to change his history, a power second only to that of nature. A projection must allow for free will because only it does not despise or distrust or fear the unknown even if it knows the future is not a better place but only a different one. Any prognosis must consider that men can change their angles of vision and therefore change the future.” He stopped to catch his wind. “And if you reject all that, then say I believe, as did Tertullian, because it is absurd.”