--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men can know more than their ancestors…" description: "\"Men can know more than their ancestors did if they start with a knowledge of what their ancestors had already learned…That is why a society can be prog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/walter-lippmann-1083_ancestor_men-can-know-more-than-their-ancestors-d_210887.jpg" --- # Men can know more than their ancestors did if they start… ![“Men can know more than their ancestors did if they start with a knowledge of what their ancestors had already learned…That is why a society can be progressive only if it conserves its traditions.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/walter-lippmann-1083_ancestor_men-can-know-more-than-their-ancestors-d_210887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/walter-lippmann-1083_ancestor_men-can-know-more-than-their-ancestors-d_210887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/walter-lippmann-1083_ancestor_men-can-know-more-than-their-ancestors-d_210887.jpg) > “Men can know more than their ancestors did if they start with a knowledge of what their ancestors had already learned…That is why a society can be progressive only if it conserves its traditions.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress depends on building upon past knowledge while preserving traditions. **In simple terms:** Learn from the past to move forward. Key Takeaway Balance innovation with tradition. Themes progress tradition knowledge society Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - policy making - community development Key Concepts history cultural continuity Questions to Reflect On - What traditions help you grow? - How to honor past without hindering future? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on tradition may stifle radical change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Ancestors Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestors-learned-2177389/) [Conserves Traditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conserves-traditions-2177392/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know Ancestors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-ancestors-631541/) [Knowledge Ancestors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-ancestors-2177390/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Progressive Conserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive-conserves-2177391/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [If I have courage, it is because I have faith in the knowledge of my ancestors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mau-piailug/if-i-have-courage-it-is-because-i-have-faith-in-the-knowledge-of-my/) [Mau Piailug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mau-piailug/) > [When we know about our ancestors, when we sense them as living and as supporting us, then we feel connected to the genetic life-stream,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-carr-gomm/when-we-know-about-our-ancestors-when-we-sense-them-as-living-and-as/) [Philip Carr-Gomm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-carr-gomm/) > [You must learn to rule. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [Food binds us to our roots as strongly as any song or poem. Many of us have learned more about our ancestors in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-thomas/food-binds-us-to-our-roots-as-strongly-as-any-song-or-poem-many-of-us/) [Anna Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-thomas/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. 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