What is suggested by the quote "We are the doddering remnants of a race of mechanical fools" in "The Portable Phonograph"?

One of the strongest elements of the short story is its
questioning of progress.  The story features a setting that has been decimated by world
conflict.  Technological advancement and progress benchmarks reached could not stop the
obliteration of society and the annihilation of cultures.  In this light, the quote of
"mechanical fools" is persuasive because it brings to light how individuals who were
galvanized by progress did little to fully understand that progress for its own sake is
meaningless if it is not geared towards an end of social betterment.  Technology and
mechanism were not driven towards this end, as the result was world catastrophe.  The
quote brings to light the pain of recognizing progress as something that represents
failure.  In the end, Dr. Jenkins saved what was good in the old civilization, even
though they could not save that civilization. He adds that he hopes that they will help
the people of the next civilization to be strong enough that they will not fall behind
when they become clever.  This might reflect the scope and meaning of the quotation, and
its comment about the potential and very real shortcomings within
it.