The process of technological development is like building a cathedral. Over the course of several hundred years new people come along and each lays down a block on top of the old foundations, each saying, I built a cathedral. Next month another block is placed atop the previous one. Then comes along an historian who asks, Well, who built the cathedral? Peter added some stones here, and Paul added a few more. If you are not careful, you can con yourself into believing that you did the most important part. But the reality is that each contribution has to follow onto previous work. Everything is tied to everything else.109
The process of technological advancement can be likened to constructing a grand cathedral over centuries. Each new generation contributes its own piece, claiming their part in the overall creation. As time passes, these individual contributions build upon the foundational work established by earlier innovators, creating a complex structure where each block relies on the previous ones. This metaphor emphasizes the collaborative nature of invention, highlighting how progress is cumulative and interconnected.
A historian might later attempt to trace the origins of this collective effort, recognizing the contributions of various individuals along the way. However, it is easy to mistakenly perceive one's own role as the most significant. The truth is that no single person is solely responsible for the achievement; rather, every innovation is a continuation of past efforts. This perspective reinforces the idea that innovation is a shared journey, with every participant playing a vital role in the evolution of technology.
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Other quotes in The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
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