I think space will be conquered through the mind rather than the clumsy medium of space travel.
A book is a fragile creature it suffers the wear of time it fears rodents the elements and clumsy hands. so the librarian protects the books not only against mankind but also against nature and devotes his life to this war with the forces of oblivion.
What a book a devil's chaplain might write on the clumsy wasteful blundering low and horribly cruel work of nature!
International relationships are preordained to be clumsy gestures based on imperfect knowledge.
Eventually we reach the point where we start to realize that we are not going to find peace contentment happiness strength fearlessness - all of the things that in our heart of hearts we wish we had - outside of us.