"If the past cannot teach the present and the father cannot teach the son, then history need not have bothered to go on, and the world has wasted a great deal of time"

Russell Hoban's quote emphasizes the vital function that history and intergenerational learning play in the advancement of society and people. The phrase "If the past can not teach the present" underscores the concept that our existing presence should be notified by the lessons learned from previous experiences. History is not merely a collection of dates and occasions however a repository of human triumphs, failures, and insights. When we stop working to learn from history, we run the risk of duplicating the errors of those who came before us.

The extension, "and the dad can not teach the kid", highlights the importance of passing understanding, values, and wisdom from one generation to the next. This conventional transfer of knowledge is fundamental to the development and improvement of society. The failure of a dad to assist his kid metaphorically recommends a more comprehensive breakdown in the transmission of essential life knowledge and cultural heritage.

The latter part of the quote, "then history need not have actually troubled to go on, and the world has squandered a great deal of time", acts as a caution. It recommends that without gaining from the past and developing through mentors in between generations, the constant march of time and history becomes futile. If each generation starts anew without constructing on the foundations laid by predecessors, human progress stalls and stagnates. This would render the battles and accomplishments of history pointless considering that their lessons go unheeded.

Hoban's sentiment is a call to keep the continuity of wisdom between the past and present. It implies an obligation on each person and generation to find out, teach, and improve upon what has come previously. Disregarding this obligation interferes with the potential development of mankind and questions the worth of collected human experience. Hence, the quote motivates mindfulness of history and the active nurturing of intergenerational teaching to ensure that mankind advances instead of simply exists.