"Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans than we have into the ways of past dinosaurs. For that reason, I'm optimistic that we can eventually arrive at convincing explanations for these broadest patterns of human history"

This quote by Jared Diamond recommends that human beings have a far better understanding of the past than we do of dinosaurs. He thinks that by looking inward and studying preserved writings, we can get a much better understanding of the past. He is optimistic that we can ultimately concern a much better understanding of the broad patterns of human history. This is because humans have actually left behind more evidence of their previous than dinosaurs have. By studying this evidence, we can get a better understanding of the past and how it has actually formed the present. Diamond's optimism is motivating, as it suggests that we can get a better understanding of our history and how it has shaped us.