--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past few years, genealogical…" description: "\"“In the past few years, genealogical research has become increasingly popular. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that we are trying, in a world of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg" --- # In the past few years, genealogical research has become… ![“In the past few years, genealogical research has become increasingly popular. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that we are trying, in a world of increasing complexity, to create a simpler and more understandable place for ourselves. No longer do we grow up in large families. We feel…” quote by Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg) > ““In the past few years, genealogical research has become increasingly popular. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that we are trying, in a world of increasing complexity, to create a simpler and more understandable place for ourselves. No longer do we grow up in large families. We feel increasingly estranged, replaceable, and ephemeral. Genealogy gives us a feeling of immortality. The individual dies; the family lives on.”” [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People turn to genealogy to find continuity and identity amid modern social fragmentation, seeking a sense of lasting belonging. **In simple terms:** Genealogy offers a feeling of lasting family connection. Key Takeaway Explore your family history for grounding. Themes identity heritage loneliness connection Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family reunions - personal crises - cultural festivals - educational projects Key Concepts genealogy social cohesion existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing ancestors affect your sense of self? - What risks arise from idealizing family continuity? A Different Perspective May overlook present relationships while idealizing the past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ephemeral Genealogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ephemeral-genealogy-3705613/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Genealogical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genealogical-1485254/) [Genealogical Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genealogical-research-3705612/) [Genealogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genealogy/) [Genealogy Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genealogy-gives-3705614/) [Large Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-families/) ## Related quotes > [“...we are trying, in a world of increasing complexity, to create a simpler and more understandable place for ourselves. No longer do we grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/we-are-trying-in-a-world-of-increasing-complexity-to-create-a-simpler/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [I love genealogical research. That's the reason I bought my first computer years ago to put my genealogy records on the computer. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nola-ochs/i-love-genealogical-research-that-s-the-reason-i-bought-my-first/) [Nola Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nola-ochs/) > [Indeed optimists rather than defeatists have produced the results for which serious genealogical research is best known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/indeed-optimists-rather-than-defeatists-have-produced-the-results-for/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [I am in Boston right now, in fact, to do work at the New England Historical Genealogical Library, where I'm trying to finish up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-am-in-boston-right-now-in-fact-to-do-work-at-the-new-england/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [Your soul is a dark forest. But the trees are of a particular species, they are genealogical trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/your-soul-is-a-dark-forest-but-the-trees-are-of-a-particular-species/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Once or twice, I've taken the Gideon Bible out of the drawer, opened it at random, and found myself stuck in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/once-or-twice-i-ve-taken-the-gideon-bible-out-of-the-drawer-opened-it/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [Of all the trees that have ever been cultivated by man, the genealogical tree is the driest. It is one, we may be sure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-b-edwards/of-all-the-trees-that-have-ever-been-cultivated-by-man-the/) [Amelia B. Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-b-edwards/) > [For me, the historical and genealogical library is the one I use. I'm working on, I'll say, it's a time travel novel. I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/for-me-the-historical-and-genealogical-library-is-the-one-i-use-i-m/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [As you get older, you get more... genealogical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/as-you-get-older-you-get-more-genealogical/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [What happened in the interim is, billions of records have been digitized. Historians and scholars have always used genealogical records to tell the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/what-happened-in-the-interim-is-billions-of-records-have-been/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [“Many of the little intrusions into our lives, the little difficulties and the petty problems that beset us, are put into proper perspective when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/many-of-the-little-intrusions-into-our-lives-the-little-difficulties/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [I haven't done any genealogical exploring myself, though members of my family and also of my husband's family have traced things back. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/i-haven-t-done-any-genealogical-exploring-myself-though-members-of-my/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [In a world often marked by selfishness, a large family is a school of solidarity and sharing; and this attitude is to the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-a-world-often-marked-by-selfishness-a-large-family-is-a-school-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Very early in my childhood I associated poverty, toil, unemployment, drunkenness, cruelty, quarreling, fighting, debts, jail with large families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/very-early-in-my-childhood-i-associated-poverty-toil-unemployment/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [When we lived in a society where we had large families that lived together, especially in agricultural societies like my grandfather and father grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/when-we-lived-in-a-society-where-we-had-large-families-that-lived/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) ## More by Oliver Pötzsch > [“Do you know what is the driving force in every good play?” He looked at the two women questioningly. When they didn’t respond, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/do-you-know-what-is-the-driving-force-in-every-good-play-he-looked-at/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“I tell my seven-year-old son about his remarkable forefathers. I leave out the bloody details. (For him these people are like knights, which sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/i-tell-my-seven-year-old-son-about-his-remarkable-forefathers-i-leave/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“If you want to know who is responsible for anything, as who benefits from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/if-you-want-to-know-who-is-responsible-for-anything-as-who-benefits/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“Life went on, despite all the dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/life-went-on-despite-all-the-dying/) [Oliver Potzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“That’s what we have to find out, but it surely has nothing to do with a mountain, a witch, or other such folderol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/that-s-what-we-have-to-find-out-but-it-surely-has-nothing-to-do-with/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“Drums rumbled, cymbals clanged, and somewhere a fiddle was playing. The aroma of deep-fried doughnuts and roasted meat drifted down to the foul-smelling tanners’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/drums-rumbled-cymbals-clanged-and-somewhere-a-fiddle-was-playing-the/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“True, it was customary in Schongau that the hangman could spare the offender if he married her. But Johannes Kuisl had a wife already,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/true-it-was-customary-in-schongau-that-the-hangman-could-spare-the/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“Alcohol was a good friend, but it was also jealous and would tolerate no competition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/alcohol-was-a-good-friend-but-it-was-also-jealous-and-would-tolerate/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“Careful what you say. God curses those who curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/careful-what-you-say-god-curses-those-who-curse/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“These women with their feminine wisdom had always been suspect to men. They knew potions and herbs; they touched women in indecent spots; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/these-women-with-their-feminine-wisdom-had-always-been-suspect-to-men/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“...we are trying, in a world of increasing complexity, to create a simpler and more understandable place for ourselves. No longer do we grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/we-are-trying-in-a-world-of-increasing-complexity-to-create-a-simpler/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“I believe in evil, but not in ghosts. Only we humans can be evil; we don’t need ghosts for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/i-believe-in-evil-but-not-in-ghosts-only-we-humans-can-be-evil-we-don/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“We delight in marvelous things. One proof of that is that everyone embellishes somewhat when telling a story in the assumption he is pleasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/we-delight-in-marvelous-things-one-proof-of-that-is-that-everyone/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“Growing children are like foals. If they’re not given room to run, they’ll lash out in every direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/growing-children-are-like-foals-if-they-re-not-given-room-to-run-they/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [“How he hated this guard who was so obsessed with the bureaucracy. People like him would be the downfall of civilization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/how-he-hated-this-guard-who-was-so-obsessed-with-the-bureaucracy/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) [Explore all 39 Oliver Pötzsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the past few years, genealogical research has become increasingly popular. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that we are trying, in a world of increasing complexity, to create a simpler and more understandable place for ourselves. No longer do we grow up in large families. We feel increasingly estranged, replaceable, and ephemeral. Genealogy gives us a feeling of immortality. The individual dies; the family lives on.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Pötzsch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-research-has-become-increasingly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-research-has-become-increasingly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oliver-p-tzsch-15973_family_in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-resea_2838205.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the past few years, genealogical research has become increasingly popular. Perhaps one of the reasons for…” — Oliver Pötzsch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oliver Pötzsch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In the past few years, genealogical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-research-has-become-increasingly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/in-the-past-few-years-genealogical-research-has-become-increasingly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```