It's striking that Native Americans evolved no devastating epidemic diseases to give to Europeans, in return for the many devastating epidemic diseases that Indians received from the Old World.

Quote by Jared Diamond

Topics: Jared Diamond Quotes

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...

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...

I've worked very hard in this book to keep the lines of communication open. I...

I've worked very hard in this book to keep the lines of communication open. I...

The rate of human invention is faster, and the rate of cultural loss is slower,...

The rate of human invention is faster, and the rate of cultural loss is slower,...

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...

All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little...

All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little...

We can't manipulate some stars while maintaining other stars as controls; we can't start and...

We can't manipulate some stars while maintaining other stars as controls; we can't start and...

Some people have much more pull than other people. But when I say that the...

Some people have much more pull than other people. But when I say that the...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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.

No government is here forever. And there are other forces - the most potent force...

No government is here forever. And there are other forces - the most potent force...

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...

Take air quality in the United States today: It's about 30 percent better than it...

Take air quality in the United States today: It's about 30 percent better than it...

I personally am not conscious of my accent.

I personally am not conscious of my accent.

Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated every possible large wild mammal species fulfilling all those...

Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated every possible large wild mammal species fulfilling all those...

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,...

Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans...

Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans...