Alphabetical order Quote by Mike Barfield
“An encyclopedia is a system for collecting dust in alphabetical order.”
About This Quote
Source Blog: The Encyclopedia Critique, 2018
Encyclopedias, though comprehensive, can become outdated and merely collect obsolete facts.
In simple terms: Encyclopedias may gather old, unused knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Use dynamic, updated sources.
Themes
knowledge
information
obsolescence
archiving
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research projects
- academic study
- library organization
- digital archiving
- education curricula
Key Concepts
information management
digital vs print
knowledge curation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you keep information current?
- What alternatives replace static encyclopedias?
A Different Perspective
Static collections miss new discoveries.
![“The middle ages did not care much for alphabetical order, because they were committed to rational order. To the medieval mind, the universe [is] a harmonious whole whose parts are related to one another. It was the responsibility of the author or scholar to discern these rational relationships…” quote by Matthew Battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da2/matthew-battles-50730_alphabetical-order_the-middle-ages-did-not-care-much-for-al_2819215.jpg)
![“She said she thought it [ letter "C"] meant alphabetical order. But nobody bothered to ask did she ever see an "A," a "B," a "D," or an "E." If I were cross-examining her I darn well would have asked her that question.” quote by Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ba/rudy-giuliani-958_alphabetical-order_she-said-she-thought-it-letter-c-meant-a_256988.jpg)
