What is the truth about this?

• From one point of view there have never been such good communications in the world as nowadays: the telegraph and telephone, ships like palaces floating on the water, aeroplane, the gramophone, and then the radio uniting mankind in one moment at any distance; besides the development that is taking place in every branch of science, of art, there are also the modern systems, organizations, and classifications. When one looks at all this one cannot doubt for one moment that according to modern opinion the world is evolving.
• But when we come to delicate thought and sentiment, good manners, knightly chivalry, kingly attitude, nobleness of spirit, generosity of heart, the tendency to sacrifice, depth of feeling, and keenness of insight, we are certain that what the man of the East says is true.