Maybe I should say they didn't have to foolishness to waste their time trying to out-do the best. There's lots of times in history an Asian guy invented something, spent his life making it the best he could, but then people later just copied the master instead of besting him.

A lot of times new things happened because somebody had the audacity or today they'd say toxic personality to believe they were the best and go out and do great things.

Like I'd say Trump is an example of that, not in a technical way but it's the same mindset of I'm the best I'm going to do it even though they say it's impossible. Not always the best trait, but it's the engine of Western civilization.