Quote by Arthur C. Clarke

Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases: (1) It's completely impossible. (2) It's possible, but it's not worth doing. (3) I said it was a good idea all along.

Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reac

Summary

This quote is suggesting that when a revolutionary idea is proposed, it is often initially dismissed as impossible or impractical by some people. However, as the idea gains traction and proves its worth, these skeptics may change their tune and claim that they supported the idea from the beginning. Ultimately, the quote highlights the common pattern of resistance and eventual acceptance that many groundbreaking ideas face throughout history.

Topics

Ideas

By Arthur C. Clarke

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Even now I can't trust life. It did too many awful things to

Even now I can't trust life. It did too many awful things to me as a kid.

Trust

Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainty is an absurd

Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainty is an absurd one.

Doubt

Admiration of the proletariat, like that of dams, power stat

Admiration of the proletariat, like that of dams, power stations, and aeroplanes, is part of the ideology of the machine age. p. 87.

Bertrand Russell

I just wish I could understand my father.

I just wish I could understand my father.

Michael Jackson

Dad

Remember that credit is money

Remember that credit is money

Benjamin Franklin

Money

When Maurice touched a keyboard, it was like something from

When Maurice touched a keyboard, it was like something from a movie, magical. He would always give you something from a movie, and you'd go, what did you just play... immediately inspirational writings, amazing. That's what we're going to miss.

Amazing

When you first get money, you buy all these things so no one

When you first get money, you buy all these things so no one thinks you're mean, and you spread it around. You get a chauffeur and you find yourself thrown around the back of this car and you think, I was happier when I had my own little car! I could drive myself!

Car

You have no power at all if you do not exercise constant pow

You have no power at all if you do not exercise constant power.

Leadership

It is a talent of the weak to persuade themselves that they

It is a talent of the weak to persuade themselves that they suffer for something when they suffer from something; that they are showing the way when they are running away; that they see the light when they feel the heat; that they are chosen when they are shunned.

Weakness

In a certain sense, and to a certain extent, he the presiden

In a certain sense, and to a certain extent, he the president is the representative of the people. He is elected by them, as well as congress is. But can he, in the nature of things, know the wants of the people, as well as three hundred other men, coming from all the various localities of the nation? If so, where is the propriety of having a congress?

Abraham Lincoln

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfect

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.

Chinese Proverb

Adversity

I think Damien Hirst is hilarious. And I think he's a true a

I think Damien Hirst is hilarious. And I think he's a true artist. He's not hilarious first I think he is a real artist, and I also think he's got an amazing sense of humor.

Amazing