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Character Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer

“Every generation, no matter how paltry its character, thinks itself much wiser than the one immediately preceding it, let alone those that are more remote.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
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“Every generation, no matter how paltry its character, thinks itself much wiser than the one immediately preceding it, let alone those that are more remote.”

Arthur Schopenhauer

About This Quote

Source Book: Parerga and Paralipomena, 1851

Each generation overestimates its own wisdom compared to its predecessors, ignoring the value of older perspectives.

In simple terms: People think they’re smarter than those before them.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about past generations.

Themes

generational bias wisdom historical perspective

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • family discussions
  • educational curricula
  • policy debates
  • media analysis

Key Concepts

cognitive bias historical relativism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this bias affect decision making?
  • What can we learn from past generations?
A Different Perspective

Older insights can still be relevant; dismissing them may cause loss of knowledge.

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