A Deeper Look at he Human Condition through the Lens of Dylan's "License to Kill"

Infidels was Bob Dylan's first album following his trilogy of Gospel infused albums, Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love. "License to Kill was the fourth track on side one. It contains some meaty, thought-provoking content along with an ambiguous chorus and title.  

After his overt Gospel period, Bob Dylan didn’t abandon moral vision, he synthesized it, weaving its threads both visibly and discreetly through the albums that followed that period.  

Songs like "License to Kill" carry a quiet, probing ethical weight, where questions of power, conscience, and human responsibility echo with biblical depth beneath the surface.

The song depicts the consequences of human arrogance, which is itself an interesting word. Arrogance is the habit of overstepping our place—assuming authority, control, or wisdom we do not truly possess. When we “arrogate power,” we act as if we are ultimate judges or masters, forgetting our limits. It’s the illusion that we can dominate outcomes, people, or even nature, as though we were accountable to no higher order.  

The “license” is symbolic: humanity acting as if it has permission to dominate, exploit, and destroy.  For me, though, it was the fourth verse and its reference to Narcissus that stimulated my curiosity to dig deeper into this song when I first heard it nearly 44 years ago.

Verse 1 begins "Man thinks ’cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please..." Dylan opens with a sweeping indictment: humanity assumes ownership of the Earth as if we are the ultimate authority. It's the illusion of dominion, and Dylan's song is a cautionary warning. Progress without wisdom is dangerous. Because of man's pride, the seeds of our own destruction are already planted.

For years I've always found the refrain a bit curious. "Now, there’s a woman on my block // She just sit there facin’ the hill // She say who gonna take away his license to kill?"

 

She's watching, waiting, and powerless. Perhaps she represents all of us who see the havoc generated by the narrative-spinners, bomb-slingers and power brokers. With each passing stanza her question is reiterated, and it remains unanswered. 

The second stanza addresses social conditioning. Dylan shifts from “man” in general to the conspiracy of systems that shape him—education, culture, media, institutions. 

"They take him and they teach him and they groom him for life // And they set him on a path where he’s bound to get ill // Then they bury him with stars // Sell his body like they do used cars 

  

The third goes further still, the aim of propaganda:

"Now, he’s hell-bent for destruction, he’s afraid and confused // And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill // All he believes are his eyes // And his eyes, they just tell him lies"

How many times have we read and seen things online or in the media and honestly don't know what's true any more. As Mark Twain once said, "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear." [EdNote: Guess what? Mark Twain didn't actually say that. It was Edgar Allen Poe. Or was it Ben Franklin?]

People aren't just ignorant of the truth, they're actually products (victims) of engineered misunderstanding. "And his eyes, they just tell him lies." Our perceptions are being deliberately distorted. What we see and believe may be deeply and intentionally misleading.

Preceding the last verse is a bridge that reminds those who think they are powerful, impressive and influential that they may still be playing a shallow role in a larger, misguided system. As we look at today's global chaos, one has to ask what is the endgame here? Who's really running this crazy show?

Oh we think we're so hot. Here's how Dylan puts it:

"Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool

And when he sees his reflection, he’s fulfilled

Oh, man is opposed to fair play

He wants it all and he wants it his way"

The reference to Narcissus is so apt. Instead of striving for something higher, man becomes his own god. When he looks in the mirror he loves what he sees.

"But there’s a woman on my block

Sitting there in a cold chill

She say who gonna take away his license to kill?"

She sees. She still asks. We still don't hear an answer.

Goin' Nuclear: Current and Recent Stories

Many experts believe that energy will become the biggest issue of the coming century. I believe the case can easliy be made that this is so. Hence, since last year I have begun collecting books and articles to study and share. Here are some interesting stories on this urgent and timeless topic.

* * * 

The Owner of Three Mile Island Is Turning the Nuclear Power Plant Back on to Fuel Microsoft's AI Operations
In this latest skirmish between the future and its enemies, the future won.
CHRISTIAN BRITSCHGI | 9.20.2024
https://reason.com/2024/09/20/the-owner-of-three-mile-island-is-turning-the-nuclear-power-plant-back-on-to-fuel-microsofts-ai-operations/?utm_medium=reason_email&utm_source=new_at_reason&utm_campaign=reason_brand&utm_content=Kamala%20Harris%20Is%20Not%20an%20Ideas%20Candidate&utm_term=&time=September%2020th,%202024&mpid=46710&mpweb=2534-4502-46710

Is nuclear power safe?
Yes. The safety record of generating electricity from nuclear power is the same as that of wind turbines and solar panels globally. We understand that anything involving nuclear technologies can evoke public concern. However, most modern technologies have inherent risks, be it flying in airplanes, undergoing surgery, or simply having electricity in our homes - all of these have the potential to cause both great harm and provide tremendous benefit. As a society we make these benefits available safely to the public by considering the risks, developing safety regulations, and learning from our mistakes. Nuclear power is no different.                                 

Modern nuclear plants are safe because we build robust containment structures and automated fail-safe systems ensure safe operation. Strict safety regulations and oversight have enabled the industry to operate for over 70 years with negligible impact on public health and safety. As with other industries like aviation, lessons learned from prior incidents continue to the already remarkable safety record.

*

Energy Bad Boys

Enjoy the blackouts, Jack

The Biden administration’s reckless EPA regulations endanger us all
https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/enjoy-the-blackouts-jack?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Nuclear Energy Progress and Regress: A Comparative Status Report

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2024/02/nuclear-energy-progress-and-regress.html

Grid Fragility and a Book by Meredith Angwin

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2021/09/grid-fragility-and-book-by-meredith.html

Is Our Energy Grid at Risk?  

http://www.businessnorth.com/businessnorth_exclusives/is-our-energy-grid-at-risk/article_8c762ece-c44b-11ee-a7e0-4f412ac3356d.html
Business North

Joe Miller Discusses the Power Grid: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2024/01/joe-miller-discusses-power-grid-where.html

The Biggest Drawbacks of Solar Panels

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-biggest-drawbacks-of-solar-panels.html

 
Power to Keep the Lights On, That's All I Ask 

https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2024/02/power-to-keep-lights-on-thats-all-i-ask.html

US falling far behind China in nuclear power, report says

The United States is between 10 and 15 years behind China in rolling out next-generation reactors, research institute says.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/6/17/us-falling-far-behind-china-in-nuclear-power-report-says

Are We Making Progress or No? 21 Quotes About Progress

The Beatles wrote a song about progress in relationships called "It's Getting Better All the Time." As for society on a grander scale, a case can be made that whereas progress is being made in some areas it's open to debate whether things are really better. It depends on what you measure.

What follows are 21 ponderables for your consideration.

QUOTES ABOUT PROGRESS

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
--George Bernard Shaw

Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long. 
--Ogden Nash

The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer. 

--George Santayana 

The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.

--Fridtjof Nansen

We stand today at a crossroads: One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other leads to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to make the right choice.
--Woody Allen

Without deviation, progress is not possible.
--Frank Zappa 

What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance.
--Henry Havelock Ellis

Change is one thing, progress is another. Change is scientific, progress is ethical. Change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.
--Bertrand Russell

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.
--Thomas Edison

Measuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight.
--Bill Gates

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
--Arthur Schopenhauer

The technology life cycle has three stages: Hype, disillusionment, and application.

--Bob Lewis

The science of today is the technology of tomorrow. 

--Edward Teller

All progress is based upon a universal, innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.
--Samuel Butler

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
--George Santayana

The most damaging phrase in the language is, "It's always been done that way."
--Rear Admiral Grace Hopper

Quality has to be caused, not controlled. 

--Philip Crosby

Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.
--Fred Brooks

 

Life was simple before World War II. After that, we had systems.
--Rear Admiral Grace Hopper

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens.
--Benjamin Disraeli

Is It Real or Just Our Imaginations? 20 Quotes About Progress

"The doctor will see you now."

Progress is an interesting word. Has the human race been making progress? When we look at the breakthroughs in medicine these past couple hundred years, it's amazing. When a mad dog with rabies bit someone, the suffering was excruciating. Until Louis Pasteur.  

Just over two hundred years ago trained medical doctors used to "bleed" you. That is, they slit your wrists to get the bad blood out of your system. Sometimes they used leeches for the same purpose, or man-made devices designed to emulate them.

98 years ago Calvin Coolidge, Jr. got a blister on his toe while playing tennis. The toe got infected and the infection killed him. They didn't have Neosporin yet. In short, progress in the medical field has been remarkable.

On the other hand, look at the technological advances: space shuttles, microchips, thumb drives, microwave ovens, robotics, the Internet. 

Then again, is it progress that we have nuclear and chemical weapons that can wipe out the human race? Our track record as societies with regards to being able to get along makes one wonder if we might even be going backwards. Drug addiction and all forms of self-destruction abound in what is supposed to be an advanced "civilized" society.

So, the theme is progress. What's really going on? Here are 20 quotes to ponder, along with a few imponderables. 

QUOTES ABOUT PROGRESS

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

--George Bernard Shaw

Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long.
--Ogden Nash

The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer.
--George Santayana 

The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.
--Fridtjof Nansen

We stand today at a crossroads: One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other leads to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to make the right choice.
--Woody Allen

Without deviation, progress is not possible.
--Frank Zappa

It's not so much what you have to learn if you accept weird theories, it's what you have to unlearn.
--Isaac Asimov

What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance.
--Henry Havelock Ellis

Change is one thing, progress is another. Change is scientific, progress is ethical. Change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.
--Bertrand Russell

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress. 

--Thomas Edison

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. 

--Arthur Schopenhauer

The technology life cycle has three stages: Hype, disillusionment, and application. 

--Bob Lewis

The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.
--Edward Teller

All progress is based upon a universal, innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.
--Samuel Butler

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
--George Santayana

The most damaging phrase in the language is, "It's always been done that way."
--Rear Admiral Grace Hopper

So much havoc has optimism wrought in this world that pessimism appears not only a legitimate way of looking at things but a moral duty.
--Christopher Spranger

Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.
--Fred Brooks

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens.
--Benjamin Disraeli

* * * 

Round and round it goes, where it stops, nobody knows.

On Progress

“Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long.” ~ Ogden Nash

The most recent Computerworld magazine featured an article called “Information Overload” by Mary Brandel. She begins by citing the remarks of Jeff Saper, a tech firm chief information officer who drives a hybrid car and has been highly sensitive to green issues. Saper’s concern today, however, is not air and water pollution. Rather, it’s digital pollution, information overload.

Change is a challenge for everyone, but we can usually find ways to make necessary adjustments when the changes come piecemeal. On the other hand, when a tidal wave of new technologies hits us all at once impacting every facet of our lives, it really can make us feel like we are drowning.

Even this morning this issue interfered with my life. I was wakened early by a periodic chirping noise. Assuming it was one of our three fire alarms with a low battery, I sat here and then there and then over by the stairs trying to determine which was the one, tracking down the source like a good Sherlock Holmes. Well, turns out to have been inside a pouch on the kitchen counter. My wife's cell phone battery was low, needing a charge.

How I long for the good old days of my youth when the most complicated decision you had to make was whether to throw to first or hope to get the lead runner sliding into third. The way we increased volume on our bicycles was to put baseball cards in the spokes, not electronic gadgets on the handlebars. Nearly any task on a car's engine could be figured out with a wrench, logic and common sense.

Nowadays, our cars are far more complex, as well as our bikes, our phones, our jobs and our lives. Computers are in most homes in America, but how many IT people live at your house? Not many homes come with an IT technician, so we have to learn how to fix modems, debug software, figure out anti-virus programs, and resolve Internet access issues just to do basic daily correspondence (via email, of course).

In short, we live in a world of mental clutter. In addition to complications caused by all these technical advances, our minds are filled with a trunk load of relationship issues, career issues, parenting issues, health issues, housing issues, problems with neighbors, addictions, mental “to do” lists and more. It’s simply a side effect of living a busy life in the modern world. Our heads are filled with a continuous “white noise” or mental chatter that serves as a perpetual distraction.

This is what “progress” in the civilized world has brought us to, it seems. No wonder we’re so distracted, neurotic and frenetic.

I remember sitting in the back seat of a car with a twelve year old boy in the 1980’s who was able to solve Rubik’s Cube in less than a minute. I couldn’t do the thing to save my life, yet here was this kid who simply astounded me with the rapidity of his hand movements directed by conscious decisions.

Later, upon reflection, I realized that he could devote 100% of his attention to the problem of solving the Cube. I was using only ten per cent of my brain, preoccupied as I was with career decisions, relationship issues, financial issues, etc. How wonderful to live in that age of innocence called youth.

Alas, youth is pretty short lived. Sooner or later, despite Peter Pan’s intentions to the contrary, most of us have to assume a measure of responsibility and participate in the modern world. At least, if you are a Westerner.