"I think we all realized that we had really been replicating things that had already been happening. I don't know if we were smart enough to realize that we were in a cul-de-sac, but we were curious"

David Baker's quote speaks with the idea of development, discovery, and the inevitable realization that in some cases in our pursuit of progress, we find ourselves retracing actions or innovating within constraints that internalized structures or past developments have set. This reflection recommends a journey marked by expedition but limited by the boundaries of pre-existing concepts and structures.

The phrase "replicating things that had already been happening" implies a recommendation of redundancy-- a typical occurrence in innovative and clinical worlds where one might inadvertently tread paths formerly checked out by others. It highlights the significance of self-awareness in any innovative or technical endeavor. Typically, groups or people might embark on projects with a fervor that blinds them to the similarity their work bears to existing paradigms, misinterpreting it for authentic novelty. This cycle of replication can be restricting but is also a necessary phase in the knowing process.

Baker's reference of possibly not being "clever sufficient to recognize" hints at a human propensity to neglect indications of stagnancy or to be captured in the inertia of one's approaches. Intellectual curiosity, however, serves as a counterbalance to this prospective risk. It's the incentive that moves innovators and thinkers out of the "cul-de-sac"-- the dead end or circle of repeated patterns-- triggering them to ask new questions, difficulty presumptions, and look for uncharted territories.

Interest, as framed by Baker, is an intrinsic quality that keeps the spirit of development alive even when one finds themselves in a rut. It's this drive that helps people and groups break free from the confines of their own making or from the shadows of past accomplishments. Hence, the quote encapsulates a double awareness: the humility of acknowledging one's repeated cycles and the unrelenting interest that fuels genuine discovery and advancement. The reflection conjures up a sense of caution but also optimism, reminding us of the value of both awareness and expedition in accomplishing meaningful development.