Another way to put it is that there's no static solution to problems in a dynamic system. Which means we have to accept our role as temporary agents within that dynamic system, pushing in the direction that seems best to us, knowing our efforts or vision aren't determinative. Still, there have been other epochs in history in which mechanism wasn't in the driver's seat, and I'm sure there will be ones in the future that are qualitatively different. Letters from Lake Cuomo by Romano Guardini gives me some hope for this.