*Nothing can come from nothing*![[Pasted image 20260429112916.png|67]] At one time, Line was pitifully small, and heavily relied on the "laws" of physics, nature, and reality, among others. Little more than the seeds of an idea, lying frozen and dormant. The perfect art awaiting it's perfect practitioner. Until some of the first wizards were able to consistently secure a large enough crop yield to allow line-adjacent ideas to take root. ![[Pasted image 20260429145641.png|129]] *While bronze age states lack staying power, they truly excelled in the societal pro-gamer-moves that are required to keep a civilization intact. But that's a subject for another time.* --- Line took shape with us, despite not yet having a name. Even as our world became more complex, line was bound by resource scarcity and weather patterns, the way that it had for time immemorial. Technology improved, allowing line to expand to a point of self-awareness, unlocking the true potential of line-growing activities that were within our grasp. The study of line has only formally existed for the last three centuries or so, but in the time since has taken the dominant role in guiding law, industry, and society. Make no mistake. Line was there all along. ***A measure that is made a target ceases to be an effective measure.*** Every process worth completing requires inputs, produces outputs, generates wastes, and faces constraints. Line is the willful ignorance of this Time changes everything, and the nature of what is considered good and what is important are no exception.