What does progress mean?

MIB: They come, fight, they destroy, they corrupt, it always ends the same.

Jacob: It only ends once anything that happens before that is just progress.

So what does progress really mean? There is a part in Doctor Who – The Power of Krull where Fenner asks the Doctor would he let a few savages stand in the way of progress. The Doctor then replied with “Progress is a very flexible word. It can mean anything you want it to mean.” Basically they wanted the savages removed so that they could put in more methane refineries.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is it depends on which side of progress you stand. Was it progress for the Indians when they were put on reservations so that progress could be made in America’s development? It depends upon your perspective. So the word is kind of vague until you know what the perspective is from the person who is using it. What do we truly know about Jacob?