Surely our knowledge of natural laws, and that inventive genius
which has enabled us to subordinate all nature to our needs, ought
also to enable us to do anything that the bird can do. Therefore
we must fly. If we cannot yet do it, it is only because we have
not got to the bottom of the subject. Our successors of the not
distant future will surely succeed.
This is at first sight a very natural and plausible view of the
case. And yet there are a number of circumstances of which we
should take account before attempting a confident forecast. Our
hope for the future is based on what we have done in the past. But
when we draw conclusions from past successes we should not lose
sight of the conditions on which success has depended. There is no
advantage which has not its attendant drawbacks; no strength which
has not its concomitant weakness. Wealth has its trials and health
its dangers. We must expect our great superiority to the bird to
be associated with conditions which would give it an advantage at
some point. A little study will make these conditions clear.
We may look on the bird as a sort of flying-machine complete in
itself, of which a brain and nervous system are fundamentally
necessary parts.
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