Mma Ramoswe shaded her eyes with a hand.All that work, she mused. And now this.Mma Potsane shrugged her shoulders. But that is always true, Mma, she said. Even Gaborone. Look at all those buildings. How do we know that Gaborone will still be there in fifty years' time? Have the ants not got their plans for Gaborone as well?Mma Ramotswe smiled. It was a good way of putting it. All our human endeavors are like that, she reflected, and it is only because we are too ignorant to realize it, or are too forgetful to remember it, that we have the confidence to build something that is meant to last.
by Alexander McCall Smith
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Mma Ramoswe reflects on her hard work while observing her surroundings, realizing that all human efforts may be temporary. Mma Potsane offers a pragmatic viewpoint, suggesting that just as they are uncertain about the future of their city, Gaborone may not endure. The presence of ants symbolizes the unpredictable nature of existence and progress.

Mma Ramotswe finds solace in these thoughts, recognizing that humanity often builds with a sense of permanence despite the inevitable changes. Our confidence in creating lasting structures emerges from our ignorance or forgetfulness about nature's plans, reminding her of the fragility of our accomplishments.

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January 23, 2025

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