--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He’d read once that the measure of an…" description: "\"“He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how relative it was not only to its time, but beyond. His”\" — Steve Berry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/steve-berry-10744_books_he-d-read-once-that-the-measure-of-an-id_429289.jpg" --- # He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how… ![“He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how relative it was not only to its time, but beyond. His” quote by Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/steve-berry-10744_books_he-d-read-once-that-the-measure-of-an-id_429289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/steve-berry-10744_books_he-d-read-once-that-the-measure-of-an-id_429289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/steve-berry-10744_books_he-d-read-once-that-the-measure-of-an-id_429289.jpg) > ““He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how relative it was not only to its time, but beyond. His”” [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that an idea’s lasting value is measured by its relevance across time and beyond its original context. **In simple terms:** Ideas endure when they stay relevant later. Key Takeaway Create timeless, adaptable ideas. Themes innovation legacy relevance intellectual history Mood analytical forward‑thinking Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - product design - policy making - education - artistic creation Key Concepts philosophy of ideas cultural transmission future studies Questions to Reflect On - How can we test an idea’s future relevance? - What makes an idea adaptable? A Different Perspective Ideas may become obsolete despite initial relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Idea Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-relative-3788083/) [Measure Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-idea-3788085/) [Read Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-measure-3788084/) [Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative/) [Relative Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative-time-1446566/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Beauty, like truth, is relative to the time when one lives and to the individual who can grasp it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-courbet/beauty-like-truth-is-relative-to-the-time-when-one-lives-and-to-the/) [Gustave Courbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-courbet/) > [“Relativity, in our case, means that success is relative to the time frame you choose to measure it with. An hour? A month? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-east/relativity-in-our-case-means-that-success-is-relative-to-the-time/) [Cate East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-east/) > [Five minutes are enough to dream a whole life, that is how relative time is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-benedetti/five-minutes-are-enough-to-dream-a-whole-life-that-is-how-relative/) [Mario Benedetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-benedetti/) > [“So in the physics of the heart, distance is relative; it's time that's absolute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/so-in-the-physics-of-the-heart-distance-is-relative-it-s-time-that-s/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“By creating and initiating things, we set relative time in motion, giving time a purpose and function under the heavens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-harper/by-creating-and-initiating-things-we-set-relative-time-in-motion/) [Oliver Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-harper/) > [We possess within us a force of incalculable power, which if we direct it in a conscious and wise manner, gives us the mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-coue/we-possess-within-us-a-force-of-incalculable-power-which-if-we-direct/) [Emile Coue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-coue/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Yoga is the method to bring or uncover the union that exists. That all things are relative and are in relationship and that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/yoga-is-the-method-to-bring-or-uncover-the-union-that-exists-that-all/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) > [Failure's relative. I've always felt, even early on, if I lose the freedom to fail, something's not right about that. It's how you treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/failure-s-relative-i-ve-always-felt-even-early-on-if-i-lose-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Maybe love, like suffering, is relative. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/maybe-love-like-suffering-is-relative/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## More by Steve Berry > [“What a difference from words on a page, or images on a video screen. Surrounding him was one of the oldest fortresses in England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/what-a-difference-from-words-on-a-page-or-images-on-a-video-screen/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [I can only write new words at my desk, the one I've owned for 25 years. When we moved to our new house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-can-only-write-new-words-at-my-desk-the-one-i-ve-owned-for-25-years/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“Knowledge is far more powerful than any weapon,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/knowledge-is-far-more-powerful-than-any-weapon/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“Never hate your enemy. That clouded judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/never-hate-your-enemy-that-clouded-judgment/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“They’re like chocolate-chip cookies, though. Can’t have just one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/they-re-like-chocolate-chip-cookies-though-can-t-have-just-one/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“If men were angels, no government would be necessary - James Madison”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-men-were-angels-no-government-would-be-necessary-james-madison/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [I love all of my children equally, all of my printed books, and each one bears a special piece of me. But the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-love-all-of-my-children-equally-all-of-my-printed-books-and-each/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“We find what we search for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/we-find-what-we-search-for/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“even the blind-eyed biscuit thrower occasionally hits the target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/even-the-blind-eyed-biscuit-thrower-occasionally-hits-the-target/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [If all my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be at the bottom, hoping to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-all-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-jump-with-them-i-d/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“It's true that the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/it-s-true-that-the-early-bird-gets-the-worm-but-the-second-mouse-gets/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“More access to information meant more dissent, more informed discussion, more widespread criticism of authority. Information changed the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/more-access-to-information-meant-more-dissent-more-informed/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [If what you know and what you love are the same thing, that's great. But if not, write what you love. I love history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-what-you-know-and-what-you-love-are-the-same-thing-that-s-great/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [Follow your heart. It rarely leads you astray. It's thinking that gets us into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/follow-your-heart-it-rarely-leads-you-astray-it-s-thinking-that-gets/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [It's the circumstances that create fear. How you respond is all you can control. Concentrate on that, and you'll always succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/it-s-the-circumstances-that-create-fear-how-you-respond-is-all-you/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) [Explore all 62 Steve Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how relative it was not only to its time, but beyond. 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