Spectacles Quote by Steven Johnson
““Those early spectacles were called roidi da ogli, meaning “disks for the eyes.” Thanks to their resemblance to lentil beans—lentes in Latin—the disks themselves came to be called “lenses.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Everything Bad Is Good for You, 2005
Early spectacles were named after their lentil‑like shape, leading to the term “lenses.”
In simple terms: The name “lenses” comes from lentil‑shaped early glasses.
Key Takeaway
Remember how visual aids evolved.
Themes
history of optics
language evolution
technology
Mood
educational
curious
Type
historical
informative
When to use this quote
- museum exhibit
- educational lecture
- product design
- branding strategy
Key Concepts
etymology
design
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we keep original names?
- What does this tell us about language change?
A Different Perspective
Modern terminology may obscure original meanings.
![“Spectacles are deaths Harquebuze. [Spectacles are death's arquebuse.]” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/979/george-herbert-107_death_spectacles-are-deaths-harquebuze-spectac_18270.jpg)