"It's a common enough mistake to believe that one's own time is the most progressive, the most advanced. That human nature only improves upon itself." This quote reflects the tendency of people to view their current era as the pinnacle of progress and development, often thinking that society is continually moving forward in a linear fashion.

"But in fact, things move in cycles-good to bad and back again." Sullivan suggests that history repeats itself in cycles rather than progressing in a straight line, and that periods of advancement are often followed by setbacks, only to eventually be followed by renewal and improvement.