--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In one era, it's hard enough to compare…" description: "\"In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.\" — Jeff Van Gundy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png" --- # In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But… ![“In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.” quote by Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png) > “In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.” [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comparing individuals across historical periods is fundamentally flawed because contexts differ dramatically. **In simple terms:** Cross‑era comparisons are unreliable. Key Takeaway Avoid judging past people by modern standards. Themes history comparison context Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy making - media reporting - personal reflection Key Concepts relativism historical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you account for context when evaluating past figures? - What criteria are fair across eras? A Different Perspective Modern metrics can’t capture past realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compare People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare-people-313525/) [Comparing People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparing-people-641284/) [Different eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-eras/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-compare-2895740/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Comparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-comparing-595518/) ## Related quotes > [People keep comparing me to people, and I just ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/people-keep-comparing-me-to-people-and-i-just-ignore-it/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [Television is a very different thing from video games. It's kind of hard for me to compare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wright/television-is-a-very-different-thing-from-video-games-it-s-kind-of/) [Will Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wright/) > [It's so hard to compare one organization to another, just because there's a different way of doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/it-s-so-hard-to-compare-one-organization-to-another-just-because/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [You start comparing people, and ultimately, somebody feels diminished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/you-start-comparing-people-and-ultimately-somebody-feels-diminished/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [I don't like comparing people or teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-don-t-like-comparing-people-or-teams/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [So right off, I'm going to have to say that a lot of people have been comparing Life Is Killing Me to World Coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-silver/so-right-off-i-m-going-to-have-to-say-that-a-lot-of-people-have-been/) [Josh Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-silver/) > [People keep comparing me to Virat Kohli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/people-keep-comparing-me-to-virat-kohli/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [It's really hard to have your voice heard in a man's world. People are always comparing women and bringing them down - that, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiza-gonzalez/it-s-really-hard-to-have-your-voice-heard-in-a-man-s-world-people-are/) [Eiza Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiza-gonzalez/) > [It's bad enough when people are comparing your movie to just other random movies, but when you have another 'Carrie' to compare it to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/it-s-bad-enough-when-people-are-comparing-your-movie-to-just-other/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [“Identifying, they said, was trying to see how I was like the people I was with. Comparing, they told me, was looking for differences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcoholics-anonymous/identifying-they-said-was-trying-to-see-how-i-was-like-the-people-i/) [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcoholics-anonymous/) > [With Instagram and Twitter, you're constantly looking at other people and comparing yourself to them, and it's just not beneficial. There is always going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/with-instagram-and-twitter-you-re-constantly-looking-at-other-people/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [As a young player, you hear people comparing you to other stars who emerged from the under-17 World Cup and never fulfilled their potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/as-a-young-player-you-hear-people-comparing-you-to-other-stars-who/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) > [I have got calls from people who are comparing me to Rajinikanth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-nath/i-have-got-calls-from-people-who-are-comparing-me-to-rajinikanth/) [Alok Nath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-nath/) > [You learn quickly at 'SNL' you get in trouble if you compare yourself to other people, where they're at, or what other people had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/you-learn-quickly-at-snl-you-get-in-trouble-if-you-compare-yourself/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Don't compare yourself to other people. It won't help. You'll only find what you expect to find. If you think you're weak, everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-skye/don-t-compare-yourself-to-other-people-it-won-t-help-you-ll-only-find/) [Samantha Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-skye/) ## More by Jeff Van Gundy > [Often, organizations don't know how good they have it with a player or coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/often-organizations-don-t-know-how-good-they-have-it-with-a-player-or/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Dwight Howard is a Hall of Fame player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/dwight-howard-is-a-hall-of-fame-player/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [You start comparing people, and ultimately, somebody feels diminished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/you-start-comparing-people-and-ultimately-somebody-feels-diminished/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [I miss coaching - certain elements of coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-miss-coaching-certain-elements-of-coaching/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [To be successful in anything, you have to have a passion for it, and that leads to being enthusiastic and demanding. I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/to-be-successful-in-anything-you-have-to-have-a-passion-for-it-and/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [If your best offensive players go down, all you can do is hang on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/if-your-best-offensive-players-go-down-all-you-can-do-is-hang-on/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [The beauty of growing up in a coaching family, particularly one that isn't at the very highest level, is that you get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/the-beauty-of-growing-up-in-a-coaching-family-particularly-one-that/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Goaltending was brought in because of Mikan and Chamberlain. So rules do change for specific players, in concert with a need to stay up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/goaltending-was-brought-in-because-of-mikan-and-chamberlain-so-rules/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Manu Ginobili - I like to watch him. I would pay to watch him play the game. He will try things that will drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/manu-ginobili-i-like-to-watch-him-i-would-pay-to-watch-him-play-the/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Shooting percentage is just as much about decision making as it is about technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/shooting-percentage-is-just-as-much-about-decision-making-as-it-is/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [When you know better and you don't do better, you're no better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-you-know-better-and-you-don-t-do-better-you-re-no-better/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Systems are overrated; players are underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/systems-are-overrated-players-are-underrated/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Just concentrate on what you're supposed to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/just-concentrate-on-what-you-re-supposed-to-do/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [I love listening to Coach Belichick's press conferences: even though they may not be what the media wants, they're great coaching, teaching tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-love-listening-to-coach-belichick-s-press-conferences-even-though/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [I broadcast games. I think there is a huge difference between print journalism and broadcasting. I don't have to say, 'sources close to LeBron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-broadcast-games-i-think-there-is-a-huge-difference-between-print/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) [Explore all 116 Jeff Van Gundy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) ## More Different eras quotes > [I think dressing up or down should be a creative experience. Exciting. Fun. For me the key to personal style lies in accessories. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/i-think-dressing-up-or-down-should-be-a-creative-experience-exciting/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [When you listen to most of the records that really had an impact on you, they always seem to be from a different era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/when-you-listen-to-most-of-the-records-that-really-had-an-impact-on/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [“History, in any case, cannot be reduced to some sort of game of comparing misdeeds in different eras; each period must be judged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/history-in-any-case-cannot-be-reduced-to-some-sort-of-game-of/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [When human beings are regarded as moral beings, sex, instead of being enthroned upon the summit, administering upon rights and responsibilities, sinks into insignificance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/when-human-beings-are-regarded-as-moral-beings-sex-instead-of-being/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [It's very difficult and unfair probably to compare players from different eras, because they were able to reach excellence in their time and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/it-s-very-difficult-and-unfair-probably-to-compare-players-from/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [Even though Prince wasn't rapping and it was a whole different era, it shows how artists expressed themselves without saying too much, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/even-though-prince-wasn-t-rapping-and-it-was-a-whole-different-era-it/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [By acquiring all of your furniture from different eras and places and things that are expensive and inexpensive, it will make your end product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-wearstler/by-acquiring-all-of-your-furniture-from-different-eras-and-places-and/) [Kelly Wearstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-wearstler/) > [The idea of recontextualizing images from different eras to express larger ideas about modern times was very exciting to me. That archival aesthetic is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisa-kreisinger/the-idea-of-recontextualizing-images-from-different-eras-to-express/) [Elisa Kreisinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisa-kreisinger/) > [I didn't want to do a costume drama. It's a great thing to do, but I've done them, and I didn't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/i-didn-t-want-to-do-a-costume-drama-it-s-a-great-thing-to-do-but-i-ve/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [I'm going to leave WWII. I considered and rejected doing something on the Pacific. Fourteen years is enough. I'd like to take on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/i-m-going-to-leave-wwii-i-considered-and-rejected-doing-something-on/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [Each collected edition of Paper Girls that we put out will largely be set in an entirely different era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/each-collected-edition-of-paper-girls-that-we-put-out-will-largely-be/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [We live in a different era now. And thank God for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/we-live-in-a-different-era-now-and-thank-god-for-that/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [In the late 90s, there was a reverse. Everyone would stand stock still and be so attentive and quiet. But then, it was almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/in-the-late-90s-there-was-a-reverse-everyone-would-stand-stock-still/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [Like all sports fans, tennis junkies are not satisfied with simply following the current crop of players and admiring their accomplishments. They seemingly always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcpherson/like-all-sports-fans-tennis-junkies-are-not-satisfied-with-simply/) [Dave McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcpherson/) > [Some people say how they'd like to live in different eras. Not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/some-people-say-how-they-d-like-to-live-in-different-eras-not-me/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) [Browse all 34 Different eras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-eras/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Van Gundy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-people-but-comparing-people-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Different eras" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-people-but-comparing-people-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/jeff-van-gundy-4113_different-eras_in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-p_423431.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to…” — Jeff Van Gundy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Van Gundy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In one era, it's hard enough...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-people-but-comparing-people-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-people-but-comparing-people-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```