Creativity Quote by Claude Levi-Strauss
““It is only through difference that progress can be made. What threatens us right now is probably what we may call over-communication--that is, the tendency to know exactly in one point of the world what is going on in all other parts of the world. In order for a culture to be really itself and to produce something, the culture and its members must be convinced of their originality and even, to some extent, of their superiority over the others; it is only under conditions of under-communication that it can produce anything. We are now threatened with the prospect of our being only consumers, able to consume anything from any point in the world and from any culture, but of losing all originality.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Structural Study of Myth, 1955
Progress needs diversity; over‑communication erodes cultural originality and creativity.
In simple terms: Difference fuels progress; too much sharing kills originality.
Key Takeaway
Encourage distinct local cultures and limit global homogenization.
Themes
culture
originality
communication
globalization
creativity
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- media policy
- education curricula
- artistic production
- community building
Key Concepts
cultural identity
information overload
creative autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance global exchange with preserving uniqueness?
- What mechanisms protect cultural originality?
A Different Perspective
Over‑communication can also spread harmful ideas quickly.
![“Everything is deeply affected by the dominant culture. Consumerism is huge in the US. This is by far the wealthiest [nation], but also the biggest consumer in the world. Which means that a lot of things get used, a lot of things get wasted, and a lot of things get churned out in ways that are…” quote by Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b25/wangechi-mutu-11352_affected_everything-is-deeply-affected-by-the-dom_1200391.jpg)
