Abandon Quote by Jared Diamond
“All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little use or else abandon practices of considerable use.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, 1997
Societies often chase trendy practices that are either useless or discard valuable ones, driven by short‑term fashions.
In simple terms: People follow fads, losing useful habits and keeping useless ones.
Key Takeaway
Question critically before following trends.
Themes
culture
behavior
trend
decisionmaking
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- marketing campaigns
- organizational change
- public policy
- personal habits
Key Concepts
social dynamics
fads
collective behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- What valuable practice have you ignored due to a fad?
- How can you identify useful habits before they become trends?
A Different Perspective
Fads can be reinforced by social pressure, making change hard.
