What has been done is little—scarcely a beginning; yet it…
““What has been done is little—scarcely a beginning; yet it is much in comparison with the total blank of a century past. And our knowledge will, we are easily persuaded, appear in turn the merest ignorance to those who come after us.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human knowledge starts small but grows compared to the vast unknown of the past; future generations will see our current understanding as limited.
In simple terms: Knowledge begins tiny, then expands; future will view us as naive.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility in learning.
Themes
knowledge
history
humility
progress
Mood
thoughtful
humble
Type
scientific
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
science history
generational perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we stay humble about what we know?
- What unknowns might future generations discover?
A Different Perspective
Current knowledge may be overestimated, limiting curiosity.