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

Technology has to be invented or adopted.

Technology has to be invented or adopted.

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,...

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...

Biology is the science. Evolution is the concept that makes biology unique.

Biology is the science. Evolution is the concept that makes biology unique.

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...

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...

Lest those islands still seem to you too remote in space and time to be...

Lest those islands still seem to you too remote in space and time to be...

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...

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....

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'd rather spend my leisure time doing what some people call my work and I...

I'd rather spend my leisure time doing what some people call my work and I...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Starbucks goes to a great effort, and pays twice as much for its coffee as...

Starbucks goes to a great effort, and pays twice as much for its coffee as...

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...

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,...

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...

It's striking that Native Americans evolved no devastating epidemic diseases to give to Europeans, in...

It's striking that Native Americans evolved no devastating epidemic diseases to give to Europeans, in...