Argument Quote by Cass Sunstein
“If you take anything that succeeded, just imagine it succeeding 10 years before or 10 years after, you could almost always make, with the same plausibility, the "it fit the times" argument.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture on Policy Forecasting, 2015
Success often depends on timing; an idea that fits one era may also fit earlier or later periods with similar plausibility.
In simple terms: Timing matters for ideas to
Key Takeaway
Consider era when evaluating ideas.
Themes
timing
innovation
historical context
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
strategic
insightful
When to use this quote
- business planning
- policy making
- product launch
- media campaigns
Key Concepts
Temporal relevance
strategic foresight
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you test an idea’s relevance across eras?
- What factors beyond timing affect adoption?
A Different Perspective
Timing alone does not guarantee success; market conditions still vary.
