--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s a succinct summary of humankind…" description: "\"“That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg" --- # That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs… ![“That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words.” quote by Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg) > ““That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words.”” [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human history can be summed up in three words, highlighting suffering and injustice. **In simple terms:** History’s core is suffering and injustice. Key Takeaway Address systemic injustices directly. Themes history humanity justice condensation Mood thought‑provoking critical inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - education - activism - policy making - media narratives Key Concepts philosophy ethics literature Questions to Reflect On - What three words would you choose? - How can we act on these injustices? A Different Perspective Reducing complex history to three words may oversimplify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-dying/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) ## Related quotes > [Children are dying." Lull nodded. "That's a succinct summary of humankind, I'd say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/children-are-dying-lull-nodded-that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Mr. Haverstrom closes the door, leaving Patrick and me alone in the hallway. Pat smiles slickly, leaning in toward me. I step back until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/mr-haverstrom-closes-the-door-leaving-patrick-and-me-alone-in-the/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [Survival can be summed up in three words - never give up. That's the heart of it really. Just keep trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/survival-can-be-summed-up-in-three-words-never-give-up-that-s-the/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [“Above all else, he loves trilogies. There has never been a trilogy he didn't like, and if you don't understand why, I have three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/above-all-else-he-loves-trilogies-there-has-never-been-a-trilogy-he/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-i-do-i-say-so-that-s-the-only-way-out-of-that-if-there-are-three/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There's only one thing to do, and three words for you, I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/there-s-only-one-thing-to-do-and-three-words-for-you-i-love-you/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [Some of the most cutthroat auditions youll have as an actor are when youll have three words to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/some-of-the-most-cutthroat-auditions-youll-have-as-an-actor-are-when/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [Three words that will kill you no matter what: I LOVE YOU. It could either kill you with happiness, or kill you with sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/three-words-that-will-kill-you-no-matter-what-i-love-you-it-could/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [I love you', though, were three words she had often heard during her twenty-two years, and it seemed to her that they were now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-love-you-though-were-three-words-she-had-often-heard-during-her/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“(In response to the question: What is your least favorite word?) It's three words that we usually use as one: woulda, shoulda, coulda. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/in-response-to-the-question-what-is-your-least-favorite-word-it-s/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [It has been said that a bride's attitude towards her betrothed can be summed up in three words: Aisle. Alter. Hymn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-muir/it-has-been-said-that-a-bride-s-attitude-towards-her-betrothed-can-be/) [Frank Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-muir/) > [“Waiting requires patience. There are three words in that sentence that nobody likes. Patience is not passivity. To be patient doesn’t mean you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-seefeldt-amodea/waiting-requires-patience-there-are-three-words-in-that-sentence-that/) [Brenda Seefeldt Amodea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-seefeldt-amodea/) > [I Can't Say I Love U To U Anymore My Darling, Because Those Three Words Are Not Enough To Describe My Love For U. ¥¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaceem-madridista/i-can-t-say-i-love-u-to-u-anymore-my-darling-because-those-three/) [Kaceem Madridista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaceem-madridista/) > [Sometimes, when you see a person cry, it's better not to ask why. Sometimes it takes only three words to make them happy again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-you-see-a-person-cry-it-s-better-not-to-ask-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Steven Erikson > [“No matter, they weren’t going anywhere. Never again. Two skeletons buried beneath a dead city. No more fitting a barrow for a warrior of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/no-matter-they-weren-t-going-anywhere-never-again-two-skeletons/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I am here to arrest your manservant. The one named Bugg.’ ‘Oh, now really, his cooking isn’t that bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-am-here-to-arrest-your-manservant-the-one-named-bugg-oh-now-really/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [The more civilized a nation, the more conformed its population, until that civilization's last age arrives, when multiplicity wages war with conformity. The former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-more-civilized-a-nation-the-more-conformed-its-population-until/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“People in great need were quick to find blame in themselves, quick to assume the burden of guilt for things they in truth had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-in-great-need-were-quick-to-find-blame-in-themselves-quick-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Any reasonable ruler would have the expectation and the demand the other way round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/any-reasonable-ruler-would-have-the-expectation-and-the-demand-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“The existance of many gods conveys true complexity of mortal life. Conversely, the assertion of but one god leads to a denial of complexity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-existance-of-many-gods-conveys-true-complexity-of-mortal-life/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“All right, shadow-priest, you've been spying — on what? What state secrets have you learned watching me groom these horses?' 'Only that they hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-right-shadow-priest-you-ve-been-spying-on-what-what-state-secrets/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“There is nothing wrong with where we are, how we are. You spit on satisfaction, leaving you always unsettled and miserable. I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-where-we-are-how-we-are-you-spit-on/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Why do I hate spiders? Gods, who doesn't? What a stupid question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/why-do-i-hate-spiders-gods-who-doesn-t-what-a-stupid-question/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It is an extraordinary act of courage,' said Tulas Shorn, 'to come to know a stranger's pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/it-is-an-extraordinary-act-of-courage-said-tulas-shorn-to-come-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I admit,’ said Spite, ‘to a certain melancholy when visiting vibrant cities, as is this Darujhistan. A long life teaches one just how ephemeral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-admit-said-spite-to-a-certain-melancholy-when-visiting-vibrant/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“People who make up their minds about something never listen to advice - especially when it's to the contrary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-who-make-up-their-minds-about-something-never-listen-to-advice/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) [Explore all 452 Steven Erikson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [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/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Erikson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i-d-say-who-needs-tomes-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i-d-say-who-needs-tomes-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/steven-erikson-588_children_that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i_976867.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That’s a succinct summary of humankind, I’d say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying…” — Steven Erikson", "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": "Steven Erikson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That’s a succinct summary of humankind,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i-d-say-who-needs-tomes-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/that-s-a-succinct-summary-of-humankind-i-d-say-who-needs-tomes-and/#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 } } ] } ```