Still men be clever and in an hundred centuries or more…
““Still men be clever and in an hundred centuries or more, perchance will have found a way to journey thither; when that they have discovered and understood all things on the earth. What will a man be like in the xxvii century, or even the xx? Very like unto us, I do expect; I do not think that man’s nature shall change; nor do I anticipate that he will be the wiser than we, for all his learning, for ‘tis a part of that nature which is ours that we do not heed the lessons of history: neither our own, nor the world’s.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Predicts humanity will retain its core nature despite technological advances, repeating past mistakes.
In simple terms: Human nature unchanged despite progress.
Key Takeaway
Learn from history to avoid repeating errors.
Themes
history
human nature
technology
future
philosophy
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
speculative
When to use this quote
- education
- leadership
- long‑term planning
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
progress
hubris
historical cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- Will future societies truly ignore history?
- Can technology reshape human nature?
A Different Perspective
Assumes no future moral evolution, which may be optimistic.