"The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress in spirals"

Madame de Stael's quote speaks with the idea that human development is not linear, however rather cyclical. She suggests that the human mind is continuously developing and growing, but that it does so in a spiral pattern. This indicates that while we may make development in one location, we may likewise regress in another. For instance, we may make advances in technology, however fall back in regards to our understanding of the environment. This quote also speaks to the idea that progress is not constantly linear, which it can be cyclical. We might make development in one location, just to discover ourselves back at the very same point in another. This quote is a reminder that progress is not constantly linear, which it can be cyclical. It is a reminder that we must not be discouraged by obstacles, however rather utilize them as an opportunity to discover and grow.