You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it.
The quote reflects on the inherent capacity for both creativity and destruction within humanity. It suggests that while even the smallest beings can exhibit unkindness, the creation of humans comes with a darker influence. The author implies that with the ability to invent and innovate, humans also carry the potential for malevolence and chaos. This duality highlights the moral complexities tied to mankind's capabilities as they can push boundaries in both constructive and destructive ways.
Cormac McCarthy emphasizes the idea that humans essentially possess the unique ability to generate machines that can perpetuate their own existence indefinitely. This concept raises questions about the nature of evil and the potential consequences of human inventions. In creating something that can operate autonomously for ages, humanity risks unleashing forces that could act out in harmful ways, thereby pointing to a deep-rooted struggle between creation and destruction inherent in our nature.
