The concept of the 200-year present

“A favorite concept of mine is the 200-year present, a way of thinking about change. The 200-year present began 100 years ago with the year of birth of the people who have reached their hundredth birthday today. The other boundary of the 200-year present, 100 years from now, is the hundredth birthday of the babies born today. If you take that span, you and I will have had contact with a lot of people from different parts of that span. So think in terms of events over that span and realize how long change takes.”

— Elise Boulding, 2003
Quaker sociologist and writer

Imagine the span of the lives of the oldest and youngest person you know and your actions influencing them both.

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Read the source of today’s quote

This month’s messages are a collaboration with guest editor Jon Watts, Quaker songwriter, videographer, and founder of Thee Quaker Project (the organization that publishes the Daily Quaker Message). Find out more about Jon.

Author

  • Elise Boulding

    Elise M. Boulding (July 6, 1920 – June 24, 2010) was a Norwegian-born American Quaker sociologist, activist, and author. She was a major contributor to creating the academic discipline of Peace and Conflict Studies.

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