Man's increase in this illusory domination over Things has been matched,
pari passu, by the increasing hostility (and greater force) of the
Things arrayed against him. Medieval man, for instance, had only a few
actual Things to worry about - the lack of satisfactory illumination at
night, the primitive hole in the roof blowing the smoke back and letting
the rain in, and one or two other small Things like that. Modern,
domesticated Western man has far more opportunities for battle-losing
against Things--can-openers, collar-studs, chests of drawers, open
manholes, shoelaces....
-- Paul Jennings. "Report on Resistentialism"
Oddly Enough (1950)
http://synapses.co.za/report-on-resistentialism/