WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOST

There is an infinite number of good things, which we all agree are highly desirable as well as possible, but of which we cannot hope to achieve more than a few within our lifetime, or which we can hope to achieve only very imprefectly.  It is the frustration of his amibtions in his own field which makes the specialist revolt against the existing order.  We all find it difficult to bear to see things left undone which everybody must admit are both desirable and possible.

FA Hayek, The Road to Serfdom