--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great many things which in times of…" description: "\"A great many things which in times of lesser knowledge we imagined to be superstitious or useless, prove to-day on examination to have been of immense ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/lafcadio-hearn-10164_examination_a-great-many-things-which-in-times-of-le_806298.jpg" --- # A great many things which in times of lesser knowledge we… ![“A great many things which in times of lesser knowledge we imagined to be superstitious or useless, prove to-day on examination to have been of immense value to mankind.” quote by Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/lafcadio-hearn-10164_examination_a-great-many-things-which-in-times-of-le_806298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/lafcadio-hearn-10164_examination_a-great-many-things-which-in-times-of-le_806298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/lafcadio-hearn-10164_examination_a-great-many-things-which-in-times-of-le_806298.jpg) > “A great many things which in times of lesser knowledge we imagined to be superstitious or useless, prove to-day on examination to have been of immense value to mankind.” [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas once dismissed as superstition can later prove essential, showing that knowledge evolves and undervalued concepts may become vital. **In simple terms:** Old ideas can become valuable later. Key Takeaway Keep an open mind about unconventional ideas. Themes knowledge progress humility innovation Mood curious hopeful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational historical When to use this quote - research funding - education curricula - public policy - technology development Key Concepts paradigm shift historical reevaluation science and culture Questions to Reflect On - Which modern “superstitions” might become future breakthroughs? - How do we balance skepticism with openness? A Different Perspective Not all dismissed ideas are useless; some may be ahead of their time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-day/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Superstitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitious/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Legislation has been and is still directed towards the protection of wealth, rather than towards the far more important interests of labor on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-stanford/legislation-has-been-and-is-still-directed-towards-the-protection-of/) [Leland Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-stanford/) > [“One is the notion that knowledge is worth acquiring, all knowledge, and that a solid grounding in mathematics provides one with the essential language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-patterson-jr/one-is-the-notion-that-knowledge-is-worth-acquiring-all-knowledge-and/) [William H. Patterson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-patterson-jr/) > [Truth is of no practical value to mankind save as it affects terrestrial phenomena, hence the discoveries of science should be concealed or glossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/truth-is-of-no-practical-value-to-mankind-save-as-it-affects/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [“Better not perceive yourselves too high, O humans. 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Even if you don't have a relationship with him, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-no-one-who-is-lost-has-lost-one-ounce-of-value-to-god-even-if-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The experience of learning how to get straight to the core of a problem proved to be of immense value later when I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/the-experience-of-learning-how-to-get-straight-to-the-core-of-a/) [Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/) > [“Anytime you build something of immense value, you are creating a promising future for yourself and the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anytime-you-build-something-of-immense-value-you-are-creating-a/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“It is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-of-infinite-moment-that-you-should-properly-estimate-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Life is beautiful when it is like ZERO figure that may look insignificant but adds immense value on supporting any digit to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/life-is-beautiful-when-it-is-like-zero-figure-that-may-look/) [Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/) > [The idea of vegetarianism is of immense value; it is based on great reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-idea-of-vegetarianism-is-of-immense-value-it-is-based-on-great/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Life has ups and downs, provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osunsakin-adewale/life-has-ups-and-downs-provide-windows-of-opportunity-to-determine/) [Osunsakin Adewale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osunsakin-adewale/) ## More by Lafcadio Hearn > [“Ere morning the storm had passed; and day broke through a cloudless east. Even if the sleeve of Aoyagi hid from her lover's eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/ere-morning-the-storm-had-passed-and-day-broke-through-a-cloudless/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [At last, in 1611, was made, under the auspices of King James, the famous King James version; and this is the great literary monument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/at-last-in-1611-was-made-under-the-auspices-of-king-james-the-famous/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Let those who want to hatch hatch their own eggs. ----Martinique proverb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/let-those-who-want-to-hatch-hatch-their-own-eggs-martinique-proverb/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There was very little suicide among the men of the North, because every man considered it his duty to get killed, not to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-was-very-little-suicide-among-the-men-of-the-north-because/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-every-great-scripture-whether-hebrew-indian-persian-or-chinese/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“It may remain for us to learn… that our task is only beginning, and that there will never be given to us even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/it-may-remain-for-us-to-learn-that-our-task-is-only-beginning-and/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Then a scream of steam, a mighty jolt; and the thunder-rattle recommences, and the train again begins to rock in mad storms of dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/then-a-scream-of-steam-a-mighty-jolt-and-the-thunder-rattle/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Some persons have ventured to say that it is only since Englishmen ceased to believe in the Bible that they began to discover how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/some-persons-have-ventured-to-say-that-it-is-only-since-englishmen/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-is-one-type-of-ideal-woman-very-seldom-described-in-poetry-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [A proof of really great art is that it is generally true - it seldom falls into the misapprehensions to which minor art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/a-proof-of-really-great-art-is-that-it-is-generally-true-it-seldom/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Našao je zemlju izlazećeg sunca pa je pšenično zrno, koje je neplodno, bacakano vetrom, najzad naišlo na grudu zemlje koja će ga primiti da…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/na-ao-je-zemlju-izlaze-eg-sunca-pa-je-p-eni-no-zrno-koje-je-neplodno/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But what is after all the happiness of mere power? There is a greater happiness possible than to be lord of heaven and earth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-what-is-after-all-the-happiness-of-mere-power-there-is-a-greater/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [The fact, however, to which I want to call attention is that the master of Judo never relies upon his own strength. He scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/the-fact-however-to-which-i-want-to-call-attention-is-that-the-master/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been buried under taxes and frauds and maladministrations so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/times-are-not-good-here-the-city-is-crumbling-into-ashes-it-has-been/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Woo the muse of the odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/woo-the-muse-of-the-odd/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) [Explore all 67 Lafcadio Hearn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## More Examination quotes > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The examining physician often hesitates to make the necessary examination because it involves soiling the finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-mayo/the-examining-physician-often-hesitates-to-make-the-necessary/) [William James Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-mayo/) > [The criterion of true beauty is, that it increases in examination; of false, that it lessens. 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