Chronology Quote by Barbara Amiel
“There is sometimes a peculiar confusion in the West that equates progress to whatever is recent or whatever is new, and it is time we understood that progress has nothing to do with the chronology of an idea.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Progress and the West" by Barbara Amiel, 2015
Progress should be judged by substance, not merely by novelty or recency.
In simple terms: True progress is about quality, not age.
Key Takeaway
Evaluate ideas on merit, not hype.
Themes
progress
innovation
culture
history
philosophy
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- product development
- policy making
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
substantive value
critical thinking
temporal bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern genuine progress?
- What criteria should guide innovation?
A Different Perspective
New ideas can be superficial; old ideas can be valuable.
![“Of course the chronology of the books is a bit back- to - front, and books usually come out before movies. But happily, these [Bridget Jones's] are fictional comedy diaries - not a history of the Battle of Waterloo.” quote by Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8f/helen-fielding-2564_battle_of-course-the-chronology-of-the-books-is_204283.jpg)
![“On the whole I try to keep Modesty and Willie in timeless settings, which is why I avoid all the latest slang and in-words. It won't be long before 'brill' sounds as dated as 'super' does now. [Uncle Happy, 1990]” quote by Peter O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/373/peter-o-donnell-110405_chronology_on-the-whole-i-try-to-keep-modesty-and-w_197742.jpg)
![“My chronology is terrible. [Work with William Shawn] must have some ago. It was after he was fired by Newhouse. After New - when Newhouse bought The New Yorker, he said in one of those grand press” quote by Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b15/nat-hentoff-1615_chronology_my-chronology-is-terrible-work-with-will_68342.jpg)
