The idea that we can ultimately at will master the natural world shows an inability to grasp the character of that world. The suggestion that we are entitled to exhaust natural riches is robbery. Nor is our boasted dominion anything but limited. It breaks down when we approach what is alive. If sometimes we take upon ourselves to terminate life, we must acknowledge that we are unable to create it.
Mastery here is partial, irregular and often ineffective.
This gives us a peculiar power from which we can derive all we need. But because we can apprehend we may apply our understanding to our profit. There is in reality no limit to our use if we know what are the laws we have to follow. Our application of principles may be bold in the extreme. It runs counter to one of the greatest principles of Nature.