Ancient Quote by Ronald Wright
““Even today, some opt for the comforts of mystification, preferring to believe that the wonders of the ancient world were built by Atlanteans, gods, or space travelers, instead of by thousands toiling in the sun. Such thinking robs our forerunners of their due, and us of their experience. Because then one can believe whatever one likes about the past - without having to confront the bones, potsherds, and inscriptions which tell us that people all over the world, time and again, have made similar advances and mistakes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything, 2003
The quote warns against romanticizing ancient achievements and ignoring evidence of human labor and progress, which erases real contributions and repeats mistakes.
In simple terms: Avoid mythologizing the past; recognize real human effort.
Key Takeaway
Seek evidence, value human work.
Themes
history
myth
human achievement
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- museum curation
- public discourse
- media reporting
Key Concepts
archaeology
anthropology
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify historical claims?
- What impact does mythologizing have on modern innovation?
A Different Perspective
Myths can be compelling but may mislead public understanding.
![“Soon after man shows up in new lands, the big game starts to go missing. […] A bad smell of extinction follows Home sapiens around the world. (37)” quote by Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad5/ronald-wright-25212_around-the-world_soon-after-man-shows-up-in-new-lands-the_2147648.jpg)
