Long time Quote by Bill Bryson
““For a long time it was assumed that anything so miraculously energetic as radioactivity must be beneficial. For years, manufacturers of toothpaste and laxatives put radioactive thorium in their products, and at least until the late 1920s the Glen Springs Hotel in the Finger Lakes region of New York (and doubtless others as well) featured with pride the therapeutic effects of its ‘Radio-active mineral springs27’. It wasn’t banned in consumer products until 193828. By this time it was much too late for Mme Curie, who died of leukaemia in 1934. Radiation, in fact, is so pernicious and long-lasting that even now her papers from the 1890s – even her cookbooks – are too dangerous to handle. Her lab books are kept in lead-lined boxes29 and those who wish to see them must don protective clothing.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything, 2003
The belief that powerful, unseen forces are harmless can lead to dangerous misuse, as seen with early 20th‑century radioactive consumer products.
In simple terms: Assuming danger is harmless is risky.
Key Takeaway
Question safety of new technologies.
Themes
science
history
technology
risk
public health
Mood
cautious
reflective
inquisitive
Type
historical
educational
warning
When to use this quote
- product development
- public policy
- museum curation
- academic research
Key Concepts
radioactivity
consumer safety
historical misconception
regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance innovation with precaution?
- What safeguards prevent repeat of past mistakes?
A Different Perspective
Assuming early enthusiasm outweighs later consequences.
