Astonishing Quote by James Gleick
“To continue down the path of comprehensiveness, Wikipedia will need to sustain the astonishing mass fervor of its birth years. Will that be possible? No one knows.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, 2023 (discussion on Wikipedia's future)
Wikipedia must maintain its early massive enthusiasm to stay comprehensive, but its future sustainability is uncertain
In simple terms: Wikipedia needs ongoing enthusiasm to stay comprehensive
Key Takeaway
Sustain community engagement for knowledge bases
Themes
knowledge sharing
community
sustainability
Mood
optimistic
concerned
Type
analysis
speculation
When to use this quote
- online encyclopedias
- crowdsourced projects
- educational platforms
Key Concepts
collective intelligence
digital collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies can sustain volunteer motivation?
- How can quality be ensured as participation wanes?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on enthusiasm may not guarantee long‑term quality
