The rate of human invention is faster, and the rate of cultural loss is slower, in areas occupied by many competing societies with many individuals and in contact with societies elsewhere.

Quote by Jared Diamond

Topics: Jared Diamond Quotes

We study the injustices of history for the same reason that we study genocide, and...

We study the injustices of history for the same reason that we study genocide, and...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines,...

The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines,...

Australia is the most isolated continent.

Australia is the most isolated continent.

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...

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...

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...