Able Quote by Luc de Clapiers
“We ought never to be afraid to repeat an ancient truth, when we feel that we can make it more striking by a neater turn, or bring it alongside of another truth, which may make it clearer, and thereby accumulate evidence. It belongs to the inventive faculty to see clearly the relative state of things, and to be able to place them in connection; but the discoveries of ages gone by belong less to their first authors than to those who make them practically useful to the world.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Innovation, 1765
The quote urges re‑expressing ancient truths in clearer, more striking ways, emphasizing practical application over original authorship.
In simple terms: Refresh old ideas to make them useful today.
Key Takeaway
Make timeless wisdom relevant now.
Themes
creativity
knowledge
practicality
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- public speaking
- teaching
- product development
Key Concepts
innovation
interpretation
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you modernize a classic idea?
- What value does practical use add to knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Original authors may be forgotten if not applied.
![“Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics - feel that [Kurt] Vonnegut started to repeat himself, to grow increasingly self-indulgent and meandering, and to sometimes just blather in his later work. But his books up…” quote by Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed7/michael-dirda-3414_1960s_nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-li_13506.jpg)
