Absence Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith
“Inventions that are not made, like babies that are not born, are rarely missed. In the absence of new developments, old ones may seem very impressive for quite a long while.”
About This Quote
Unrealized inventions and unborn children go unnoticed; without new innovations, existing achievements appear exaggeratedly impressive for a time.
In simple terms: Absence of novelty inflates the value of old things.
Key Takeaway
Innovation drives perception of progress.
Themes
innovation
perception
progress
obsolescence
Mood
nostalgia
critical
Type
observation
philosophical
When to use this quote
- product development cycles
- historical analysis
- career planning
Key Concepts
psychology of novelty
cultural memory
Practical Applications
- encourage continuous R&D
- celebrate incremental improvements
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scarcity of innovation affect societal optimism?
- When is it better to let an idea remain unrealized?
A Different Perspective
Some 'unmade' ideas may be ethically undesirable, so their absence can be positive.
![“A very, very impressive director, Tomas Alfredson. It's only his second film [ 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'], but he's a real find.” quote by John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/018/john-hurt-1669_cinema_a-very-very-impressive-director-tomas-al_405562.jpg)
