Innovation Quote by Norbert Wiener
““As to the inventions of printing and of paper, we generally consider these in the wrong oredr, attributing too much importnace to printing and too little to paper.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Cybernetics and Society, Norbert Wiener, 1948
Printing is often over‑valued while the role of paper as a medium for information storage and dissemination is under‑appreciated.
In simple terms: Paper’s importance is overlooked compared to printing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize paper’s foundational role in communication.
Themes
communication
technology
media
history
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
informative
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- digital archiving
- advertising
- library science
Key Concepts
information theory
material culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How would knowledge spread without paper?
- What modern media replace paper’s role?
A Different Perspective
Paper’s impact is limited without printing technology.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
