In the earliest times of the discovery of the faculty of…
““In the earliest times of the discovery of the faculty of judgment, every new judgment was a find. The worth of this find rose, the more practical and fertile the judgment was. Verdicts which now seem to us very common then still demanded an unusual level of intellectual life. One had to bring genius and acuity together in order to find new relations using the new tool. Its application to the most characteristic, interesting, and general aspects of humanity necessarily aroused exceptional admiration and drew the attention of all good minds to itself. In this way those bodies of proverbial sayings came into being that have been valued so highly at all times and among all peoples. It would easily be possible for the discoveries of genius we make today to meet with a similar fate in the course of time. There could easily come a time when all that would be as common as moral precepts are now, and new, more sublime discoveries would occupy the restless spirit of men.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
New judgments are valued for their practical impact; over time, they become common knowledge, while future discoveries will follow the same pattern.
In simple terms: Ideas start rare, become common, then inspire new ideas.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate curiosity, recognize the evolution of ideas.
Themes
innovation
knowledge
history
humanity
progress
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
historical
motivational
When to use this quote
- education
- scientific research
- creative arts
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
cultural evolution
intellectual history
Questions to Reflect On
- What current ' might become tomorrow's common sense?
- How can we keep fresh perspectives alive?
A Different Perspective
Ideas can become dogma if not continually re‑examined.