Add Quote by John of Salisbury
“We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Policraticus by John of Salisbury, 1159
We stand on the knowledge of predecessors, gaining broader vision through their achievements.
In simple terms: Our insights expand thanks to those before us.
Key Takeaway
Build on past work to see further.
Themes
knowledge
legacy
humility
Mood
respectful
inspired
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- scientific discovery
- artistic creation
- personal growth
Key Concepts
intellectual inheritance
progress
collective wisdom
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you honor past contributions while forging new paths?
- What does "standing on shoulders" mean in your field?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on past limits innovation.
![“We are like dwarfs [the moderns] sitting on the shoulders of giants [the ancients]. Our glance can thus take in more things and reach farther than theirs. It is not because our sight is sharper nor our height greater than theirs; it is that we are carried and elevated by the high stature of the…” quote by Bernard of Chartres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8e3/bernard-of-chartres-86279_dwarfs_we-are-like-dwarfs-the-moderns-sitting-o_2905624.jpg)
![“We [the Moderns] are like dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants [the Ancients], and thus we are able to see more and farther than the latter.” quote by Bernard of Chartres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/182/bernard-of-chartres-86279_able_we-the-moderns-are-like-dwarves-perched_1740550.jpg)
![“Among all the liberal arts, the first is logic, and specifically that part of logic which gives initial instruction about words. ... [T]he word "logic" has a broad meaning, and is not restricted exclusively to the science of argumentative reasoning. [It includes] Grammar [which] is "the science of…” quote by John of Salisbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/49d/john-of-salisbury-36405_art_among-all-the-liberal-arts-the-first-is_1929000.jpg)
