Bert Swope
Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.
Augustus Hare
Many people mistakenly believe that success is the key to happiness. Millions have achieved the success they desired in life only to discover later that it didn’t fulfill them. In this article, we’ll explain the meaning behind the quote “Thought is the wind, knowledge is the sail and mankind the vessel” so you can decide whether or not you concur.
Meaning of the Word “Wind”
Wind is an invisible force of nature that can represent many things. It may be gentle, like a breeze, or destructive like hurricanes. No matter its form takes, wind remains an effective tool for humans to harness.
It has long been employed to propel ships around the globe, capture water in windmills, and transform massive stones into tools for milling grain, sawing logs, and crushing ore. Furthermore, it can be utilized as fuel in turbines that generate electricity.
The word “wind” comes from the Latin verb wend, meaning to turn or twist. It also serves as a short version of the verb wenden, which translates as “to twine,” as in weaving.
In the past, people relied on wind to convey their messages to others. This was especially true during sailing days when strong winds were necessary for ships to sail smoothly and efficiently.
Today, the word “wind” denotes any current of air moving across Earth’s surface. Journalists often refer to this movement as an indicator for what trends or factors are shaping events.
Wind is an environmental force that can be extremely beneficial for certain plants. It helps spread seeds to distant locations, allowing these species to expand their populations.
Wind not only aids plants in growing, but it can also be an effective means for animals to communicate with one another. For instance, wind might carry the scent of food from one animal to another.
Wind can also transport dirt and debris from one location to another, especially in high pollution areas like urban centers.
Wind is an immense and influential force in the world, profoundly affecting all aspects of life. It acts as an equalizer of atmospheric conditions, transporting heat, moisture, and pollutants throughout Earth’s atmosphere. Furthermore, the wind has had an influential role in human history and civilization’s progress.
Meaning of the Word “Sail”
A sail is a fabric piece to catch wind currents and propel boats or ships across water. It can also be used as an adjective, signifying something easily or quickly.
The word “sail” derives from the Old English seglan, meaning “veil,” curtain or sail”. It can be used both as a verb and noun but is typically referred to as a noun since it refers to the actual sail itself.
Sail is an expression used to indicate movement across the water, and can refer to either sailing a boat or ship for recreation. It also can be used as an adjective to refer to something shaped like a sail, such as the blade of a windmill.
Sails can be constructed from a range of materials, such as canvas or polyester cloth, laminated membranes and bonded filaments. Shaped square or curved, they’re usually designed for flexibility so they bend in the wind without breaking.
Propulsive force is generated when a sailing craft’s angle of attack changes, either producing lift or drag depending on its orientation with respect to the apparent wind (the combination of true wind velocity and vessel motion).
A sail aligned close to the apparent wind may act as an airfoil and generate propulsive force through lift. Unfortunately, as it diverges from this direction, more drag than lift occurs. Therefore, keeping your sail at an angle of attack that is slightly closer to the apparent breeze produces more lift than drag for efficient sailing performance.
Sails attached to a mast or spar can be either square or quadrilateral in shape. Examples include fore-and-aft quadrilateral sails like gaff-rigged square sails and Bermuda triangular sails, junk and spritsails, lug rigged square sails, as well as halyard-supported spinnakers.
Meaning of the Word “Mankind”
The term “mankind” is often used to refer to all members of humanity. Although it’s a commonly used expression in English, its interpretation can vary significantly.
An adjective may refer to either a noun, verb, or adjective. Additionally, phrases and compounds may also be formed from these constituent parts.
When we refer to “mankind,” it refers to all members of the human race–male and female alike. While this term has long been used in contrast with other animals, many believe that its use is sexist and should be avoided.
If we want to be inclusive and avoid the sexism associated with “mankind”, we can use the term “humankind”. This more modern definition encompasses all members of humanity – male and female.
In the Bible, mankind is described as being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and created with both a body and soul. Unfortunately, human nature was corrupted by sin, leading to darkened minds and hearts. Thankfully though, Scripture tells us God has restored mankind’s fallen nature and being.
The Bible frequently uses the term “mankind”: Leviticus 18:22; Job 12:10; and James 3:7. Additionally, it is employed to describe humanity in Isaiah 45:5; John 3:16; and Romans 9:27.
The term “man” derives from the Proto-Germanic word for “person,” “mann.” In Old English it served to distinguish male and female individuals; however, around 1000 it was replaced with simply “man”.
At first, this term only applied to adult males as an adult male. But like many other languages, its meaning has evolved over time.
By the 13th century, it had become obsolete to distinguish between males and females. Instead, it began narrowing to mean simply “husband”.
Recently, evidence suggests the term “mankind” may be losing popularity. David Kroch, an assistant professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, reports there’s even a trend towards using “humanity” instead of “mankind.” While this shift may be slow in coming, it should not be overlooked.