--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The big question of our time is not Can…" description: "\"The big question of our time is not Can it be built? but Should it be built? This places us in an unusual historical moment: our future prosperity depe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/eric-ries-2911_big-questions_the-big-question-of-our-time-is-not-can_956613.png" --- # The big question of our time is not Can it be built? but… ![“The big question of our time is not Can it be built? but Should it be built? This places us in an unusual historical moment: our future prosperity depends on the quality of our collective imaginations.” quote by Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/eric-ries-2911_big-questions_the-big-question-of-our-time-is-not-can_956613.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/eric-ries-2911_big-questions_the-big-question-of-our-time-is-not-can_956613.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/eric-ries-2911_big-questions_the-big-question-of-our-time-is-not-can_956613.png) > “The big question of our time is not Can it be built? but Should it be built? This places us in an unusual historical moment: our future prosperity depends on the quality of our collective imaginations.” [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The key issue is not feasibility but ethical desirability; our future hinges on collective imagination quality. **In simple terms:** Ask if something should be built, not just if it can. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over possibility. Themes ethics innovation future collective imagination responsibility Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - product development - policy making - strategic planning - community brainstorming - venture funding Key Concepts philosophy technology ethics social impact Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your decisions? - How can we assess collective imagination quality? A Different Perspective Feasibility alone does not guarantee beneficial outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-questions/) [Future prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-prosperity/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“maybe love itself is a paradox, a figment of our collective imaginations!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzette-francis/maybe-love-itself-is-a-paradox-a-figment-of-our-collective/) [Suzette Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzette-francis/) > [One set of messages of the society we live in is: Consume. Grow. Do what you want. Amuse yourselves. The very working of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/one-set-of-messages-of-the-society-we-live-in-is-consume-grow-do-what/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [It may be a truism that the country cannot be strong abroad unless it is strong at home, but it's also a fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/it-may-be-a-truism-that-the-country-cannot-be-strong-abroad-unless-it/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Our long-term prosperity depends critically on the ability of world leaders to make politically difficult decisions at a time when the global economy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dallara/our-long-term-prosperity-depends-critically-on-the-ability-of-world/) [Charles Dallara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dallara/) > [“Prosperity depends on ferocity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/prosperity-depends-on-ferocity/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [North Dakota's long-term prosperity depends on the success of its communities and rural areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/north-dakota-s-long-term-prosperity-depends-on-the-success-of-its/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [Our sufferings have taught us that no nation is sufficient unto itself, and that our prosperity depends in the long run, not upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/our-sufferings-have-taught-us-that-no-nation-is-sufficient-unto/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have than having what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abert-f-geoffrey/prosperity-depends-more-on-wanting-what-you-have-than-having-what-you/) Abert F Geoffrey > [“Where affluence is the rule, the true threat is the loss of desire,(...) What is new is not that prosperity depends on stimulating demand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-n-gray/where-affluence-is-the-rule-the-true-threat-is-the-loss-of-desire/) [John N. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-n-gray/) > [We must preserve our planet and grow our economy simultaneously. We cannot become more prosperous without the living systems upon which our prosperity depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/we-must-preserve-our-planet-and-grow-our-economy-simultaneously-we/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [“There is absolutely no need to run after time to catch it. It does not run away from us, it runs towards us. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bloom/there-is-absolutely-no-need-to-run-after-time-to-catch-it-it-does-not/) [Anthony Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bloom/) > [In the landscape of time, there are few locations less comfortable than that of one who waits for some person or event to arrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-grudin/in-the-landscape-of-time-there-are-few-locations-less-comfortable/) [Robert Grudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-grudin/) > [The present moment dies every moment to become the past , is reborn every moment into the future. All experience is now. Now never ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-present-moment-dies-every-moment-to-become-the-past-is-reborn/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As an actor, I only play what is in the moment, rather than in the future, but sometimes the past is more important than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/as-an-actor-i-only-play-what-is-in-the-moment-rather-than-in-the/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [Always live in the moment, because the FUTURE will always be a blur!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-howser-photography/always-live-in-the-moment-because-the-future-will-always-be-a-blur/) Megan Howser Photography ## More by Eric Ries > [The lesson of the MVP is that any additional work beyond what was required to start learning is waste, no matter how important it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lesson-of-the-mvp-is-that-any-additional-work-beyond-what-was/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [HubSpot has used the lean startup method to build a spectacularly successful company. What I particularly love about HubSpot is that they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/hubspot-has-used-the-lean-startup-method-to-build-a-spectacularly/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [By the time that product is ready to be distributed widely, it will already have established customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/by-the-time-that-product-is-ready-to-be-distributed-widely-it-will/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [It was 1999, and we were building a way for college kids to create online profiles for the purpose of sharing... with employers. Oops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/it-was-1999-and-we-were-building-a-way-for-college-kids-to-create/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Except in very narrow cases, where there's breakthrough science that needs patent production, worrying about competitors is a waste of time. If you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/except-in-very-narrow-cases-where-there-s-breakthrough-science-that/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“waiting too long to release can lead to the ultimate waste: making something that nobody wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/waiting-too-long-to-release-can-lead-to-the-ultimate-waste-making/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [There's nothing wrong with raising venture capital. Many lean startups are ambitious and are able to deploy large amounts of capital. What differentiates them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-raising-venture-capital-many-lean-startups/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“In the Lean Startup model, every product, every feature, every marketing campaign—everything a startup does—is understood to be an experiment designed to achieve validated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/in-the-lean-startup-model-every-product-every-feature-every-marketing/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Learning is the essential unit of progress for startups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/learning-is-the-essential-unit-of-progress-for-startups/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“...a long-term reputation is only at risk when companies engage in vocal launch activities such as PR and building hype. When a product fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/a-long-term-reputation-is-only-at-risk-when-companies-engage-in-vocal/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The minimum viable product is that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-minimum-viable-product-is-that-version-of-a-new-product-which/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Every startup has a chance to change the world, by bringing not just a new product, but an entirely new institution into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/every-startup-has-a-chance-to-change-the-world-by-bringing-not-just-a/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Entrepreneurs can't forecast accurately, because they are trying something fundamentally new. So they will often be laughably behind plan - and on the brink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/entrepreneurs-can-t-forecast-accurately-because-they-are-trying/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The lean startup method is not about cost, it is about speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lean-startup-method-is-not-about-cost-it-is-about-speed/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) [Explore all 138 Eric Ries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## More Big questions quotes > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [Many people in their teens wonder about these big questions - what's the meaning of life, what are we doing here - then somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/many-people-in-their-teens-wonder-about-these-big-questions-what-s/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I love Big Themes. Films that ask big questions about technology, society, mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/i-love-big-themes-films-that-ask-big-questions-about-technology/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/religion-gives-you-a-sense-of-certainty-it-makes-you-feel-that-you/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [I like the big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-turlington/i-like-the-big-questions/) [Christy Turlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-turlington/) > [Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/do-those-things-that-incline-you-toward-the-big-questions-and-avoid/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > ['Why are we here?' 'What is our purpose? 'Is there an afterlife?' 'Is there a God?' 'Is it all about science?' Those are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/why-are-we-here-what-is-our-purpose-is-there-an-afterlife-is-there-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I do find that I tend to write about big questions. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/i-do-find-that-i-tend-to-write-about-big-questions-why-are-we-here/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [I've always been into asking the big questions; I'm the last guy out the door at closing time cuz I was sittin' around 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-always-been-into-asking-the-big-questions-i-m-the-last-guy-out/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [In a very small way, painting addresses the 'Big Questions' to which we'll never find the answers. You do what you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-messer/in-a-very-small-way-painting-addresses-the-big-questions-to-which-we/) Sam Messer > [The world of money, of numbers and stock markets and interest rates and credit cards, seems on the surface about as far as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-world-of-money-of-numbers-and-stock-markets-and-interest-rates/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I started asking the big questions that I had asked in college, that my compatriots the Greek philosophers had asked, like 'what is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/i-started-asking-the-big-questions-that-i-had-asked-in-college-that/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I first started asking big questions when I was 12, and by big questions, I mean, 'Why are we here? What is this business?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/i-first-started-asking-big-questions-when-i-was-12-and-by-big/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [“There are big questions science doesn’t answer, such as why is there something rather than nothing? There can’t be a scientific answer to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/there-are-big-questions-science-doesn-t-answer-such-as-why-is-there/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) [Browse all 142 Big questions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-questions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The big question of our time is not Can it be built? but Should it be built? 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