Our everyday language is filled with analogies and metaphors alluding to shoulders. In the seventeenth century Isaac Newton restated this in a letter to a friend: “If I have seen further it is by standing on shoulders of giants.” 3 In yet another expression of this idea the English two-pound coin has “standing on the shoulders of giants” inscribed on the edge of the coin.
He pointed out that we see more and farther than our predecessors, not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted up and borne aloft on their gigantic stature. In 1159, John of Salisbury wrote thatīernard of Chartres used to compare us to dwarfs perched on the shoulders of giants. The idea of standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us comes from the twelfth century and the words of Bernard of Chartres. When I muse about my own cloud of witnesses, I picture them as the “giants” upon whose shoulders I now stand. 1 Accordingly in this first of three reflections, I think back to those persons who have prodded, inspired, provoked, and pushed me to be where I am today. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Perhaps most rewarding are the friendships I have forged with CSR publisher, David Hoekema at Calvin College, and CSR managing editor, Todd Steen at Hope College.Īs I reflect back over my years as editor, I am reminded of an obvious yet nonetheless important truth-we all owe much to those who have gone before us. In addition, I have been privileged to work with dozens of wonderful associate editors and referees-those people who do the hard work of vetting and evaluating manuscripts. Throughout this time I have realized in deeply satisfying ways the key reason I accepted the appointment as editor-to work with other Christian scholars who were intentional in their efforts to promote, enhance, and extend the expression and practice of Christian scholarship. Over the years it has been my delight to work with scores of authors-many working earnestly to achieve their first scholarly publication and many others furthering their seasoned records as scholars. When I was appointed editor of this journal in 1999, I little dreamed how fulfilling it would be personally and professionally. King is Professor of English at Montreat College. In the first of three short reflections as he completes his service to CSR effective May 1, 2015, he muses on an obvious but nonetheless important truth-all of us owe much to those who have gone before us. King has served as the Editor of the Christian Scholar’s Review. That's why we're following behind the linebacker as he pushes his way through the crowded party to the punch bowl.For sixteen years Don W. To humbly give credit to those who have paved the way for you is never pretentious. If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10. Merton about creativity, plagiarism, and progress. It is also used as the title for a book by Robert K.This line seems to be the title for many YouTube videos, ranging from a video about astrophysics to a clip about Health Care reform.And obviously, the best way to see over those crowds is by standing on the shoulders of a giant-preferably one you know.
We hear this all the time at concerts, sports events, and parades. We're just hoping that someday we can write letters as eloquently as Newton did. Without the Wright brothers, Curiosity and Opportunity wouldn't be roving around Mars looking for their ancestors, and without Wilhelm Röntgen there would be no superheroes with X-ray vision. It's a great quote that simply means we make progress by building on the discoveries of those who have gone before us. Try wading through that and you'll be grateful for Shmoop!īut someone probably said it even before then. Around 1159, a man named John of Salisbury (the city near Stonehenge, not the steak), wrote something similar in Latin in a paper called Metalogicon. Sir Isaac Newton (the genius who gave us Principia Mathematica and gravity), wasn't the first person to use a line like this. This line was written by Sir Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke (1676, that's 1675 by the Julian calendar). Wisdom Technology Knowledge Historical Documents Imagination Experience Intelligence Education Historical Figures Sir Isaac Newton Context
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