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And surely, he that hath taken the true Altitude of…

“And surely, he that hath taken the true Altitude of Things, and rightly calculated the degenerate state of this Age, is not like to envy those that shall live in the next, much less three or four hundred Years hence, when no Man can comfortably imagine what Face this World will carry.” quote by Thomas Browne
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“And surely, he that hath taken the true Altitude of Things, and rightly calculated the degenerate state of this Age, is not like to envy those that shall live in the next, much less three or four hundred Years hence, when no Man can comfortably imagine what Face this World will carry.”

Thomas Browne

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The future will be unimaginable; current generations cannot foresee distant epochs.

In simple terms: Future societies will be beyond our current imagination.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty about long‑term outcomes.

Themes

future knowledge humility

Mood

thoughtful speculative

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • technology forecasting
  • long‑term planning
  • philosophical debate
  • cultural evolution

Key Concepts

epistemology historical perspective

Questions to Reflect On

  • What assumptions limit our view of the future?
  • How can we prepare for unknown possibilities?
A Different Perspective

Predicting distant futures often fails due to unforeseen breakthroughs.

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