The Irony of Mankind

'I want to appeal to your analytical mind,' don Juan said. 'Think for a moment and tell me how you would explain the contradiction between the intelligence of man the engineer and the stupidity of his systems of beliefs, or the stupidity of his contradictory behavior.'

'Sorcerers believe that the predators (of man) have given us our systems of beliefs, our ideas of good and evil, our social mores. They are the ones who set up our hopes, expectations and dreams of success or failure (via media). They have given us covetousness, greed and cowardice (wealth, fame). It is the predators who make us complacent, routinary, and egomanical.'