Men with Tools

'But on the whole,' continues our eloquent Professor, 'Man is a Tool-using Animal (Handthievendes Thier). Weak in himself, and of small stature, he stands on a basis, ... insecurely enough; as to straddle out his legs, lest the very wind supplant him. Feeblest of bipeds! ... Nevertheless he can use Tools, can devise Tools: with these the granite mountain melts into light dust before him; he kneads glowing iron, as if it were soft paste; seas are his smooth highway, winds and fire his unwearying steeds. Nowhere do you find him without Tools; without Tools he is nothing, with Tools he is all.'

 -- Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), Sartor Resartus