--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every generation imagines itself to be…" description: "\"“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”\" — George Orwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/george-orwell-57_generation_every-generation-imagines-itself-to-be-m_151196.jpg" --- # Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent… ![“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/george-orwell-57_generation_every-generation-imagines-itself-to-be-m_151196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/george-orwell-57_generation_every-generation-imagines-itself-to-be-m_151196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/george-orwell-57_generation_every-generation-imagines-itself-to-be-m_151196.jpg) > ““Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”” [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each generation overestimates its own intellect and underestimates future wisdom. **In simple terms:** People think they’re smarter than past and future generations. Key Takeaway Stay humble about knowledge. Themes generational bias humility wisdom Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - education - policy making - family discussions Key Concepts cognitive bias historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How does this bias affect decision making? - What can we learn from past generations? A Different Perspective Future insights may be limited by current assumptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generation Imagines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-imagines-1681647/) [Imagines Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagines-intelligent-1681648/) [Went Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-wiser-1681650/) [Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser/) [Wiser Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser-comes-1681649/) ## Related quotes > [Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/each-generation-imagines-itself-to-be-more-intelligent-than-the-one/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. 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Unfortunately, most people just grow older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/some-people-they-grow-wiser-as-they-grow-older-unfortunately-most/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More by George Orwell > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-given-out-that-the-animals-there-practised-cannibalism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The actual writing would be easy. 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