We should always be prepared for future technologies, because otherwise they will come along and clobber us.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Clarke warns that failing to anticipate technological change leads to being overwhelmed by it.
- In plain terms
- Prepare for new technology now or you will suffer when it arrives.
- What can you take from it?
- Proactive preparation is necessary to handle technological shifts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are you prepared for the next big tech shift?
- What tech scares you?
Another view
Predicting exactly which technologies will succeed is difficult.
More from Arthur C. Clarke
The intelligence of the planet is constant, and the population is growing.
Permalink to quote #64 Our lifetime may be the last that will be lived out in a technological society.
Permalink to quote #66 My favourite definition of 'Intellectual' is: 'A person whose education surpasses their intelligence.'
Permalink to quote #63
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