All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little use or else abandon practices of considerable use.

Quote by Jared Diamond

Topics: Jared Diamond Quotes

Eurasia ended up with the most domesticated animal species in part because it's the world's...

Eurasia ended up with the most domesticated animal species in part because it's the world's...

Technology causes problems as well as solves problems. Nobody has figured out a way to...

Technology causes problems as well as solves problems. Nobody has figured out a way to...

Knowledge is the true organ of sight not the eyes

Knowledge is the true organ of sight not the eyes

Native Americans had only stone and wooden weapons and no animals that could be ridden....

Native Americans had only stone and wooden weapons and no animals that could be ridden....

Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to...

Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to...

I've always been interested in a lot of things, and a lot of things at...

I've always been interested in a lot of things, and a lot of things at...

Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents for the last...

Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents for the last...

The broadest pattern of history - namely, the differences between human societies on different continents...

The broadest pattern of history - namely, the differences between human societies on different continents...

Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation.

Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation.

Twenty years ago, you might have been pessimistic and said there's no hope. But these...

Twenty years ago, you might have been pessimistic and said there's no hope. But these...

The southward advance of native African farmers with Central African crops halted in Natal, beyond...

The southward advance of native African farmers with Central African crops halted in Natal, beyond...

AIDS and malaria and TB are national security issues. A worldwide program to get a...

AIDS and malaria and TB are national security issues. A worldwide program to get a...

Decided that now is the time to start doing the things that really interest me...

Decided that now is the time to start doing the things that really interest me...

Federal elections happen every two years in this country. Presidential elections every four years. And...

Federal elections happen every two years in this country. Presidential elections every four years. And...

Tasmanian history is a study of human isolation unprecedented except in science fiction - namely,...

Tasmanian history is a study of human isolation unprecedented except in science fiction - namely,...

Although native Africans domesticated some plants in the Sahel and in Ethiopia and in tropical...

Although native Africans domesticated some plants in the Sahel and in Ethiopia and in tropical...

Measles and TB evolved from diseases of our cattle, influenza from a disease of pigs,...

Measles and TB evolved from diseases of our cattle, influenza from a disease of pigs,...

The United States has long thought of itself as the land of infinite plenty, and...

The United States has long thought of itself as the land of infinite plenty, and...

Australia is the most isolated continent.

Australia is the most isolated continent.

We're uncomfortable about considering history as a science. It's classified as a social science, which...

We're uncomfortable about considering history as a science. It's classified as a social science, which...