Capricious Quote by Fernand Braudel
“Social science virtually abhors the event. Not without reason; the short-term is the most capricious and deceptive form of time.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Civilization and Capitalism, 1979
Short‑term events are volatile and deceptive, making it hard to grasp true historical patterns.
In simple terms: Short‑term events can be misleading and unstable.
Key Takeaway
Consider long‑term trends over fleeting moments.
Themes
history
economics
time
perception
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- policy making
- investment decisions
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
cyclical change
short‑term bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance short‑term urgency with long‑term insight?
- What mechanisms reveal deeper patterns?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on short‑term data can lead to poor decisions.
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![“The key problem is to find out why that sector of society of the past, which I would not hesitate to call capitalist, should have lived as if in a bell jar, cut off from the rest; why was it not able to expand and conquer the whole of society?... [Why was it that] a significant rate of capital…” quote by Fernand Braudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/043/fernand-braudel-28972_able_the-key-problem-is-to-find-out-why-that_1776623.jpg)
