"It is, I claim, nonsense to say that it does not matter which individual man acted as the nucleus for the change. It is precisely this that makes history unpredictable into the future"
- Gregory Bateson
About this Quote
This quote by Gregory Bateson is emphasizing the importance of individual action in history. He is saying that it is not real to say that it does not matter which specific man functioned as the nucleus for the modification. He is arguing that it is specifically this private action that makes history unpredictable into the future. He is suggesting that it is the specific decisions and actions of individuals that shape the course of history, and that without these individual actions, history would be far more predictable. He is emphasizing the importance of private action in history, and how it can have a substantial influence on the future. He is suggesting that it is impossible to predict the future without considering the private actions of people.
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