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About this quote

What does it mean?
Clarke suggests the intelligent minority will recognize January 1, 2001, as the true start of the new century and millennium.
In plain terms
Smart people know the 21st century starts on January 1, 2001.
What can you take from it?
Understand the technical start dates of centuries and millennia.

Where it applies

  • calendar debates
  • historical counting
  • educational contexts

Putting it to work

  • verify date calculations
  • educate on century starts

Questions to consider

  • Does the exact start date matter?
  • Why do people disagree on century starts?

Another view

It assumes the majority's celebration is wrong rather than culturally valid.

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