throughout the years

[keannu]

Does this "throughout the years" mean "throughout the history" or "for the last few years"?

ja21
ex)According to wise men throughout the years, decreasing your desires is a sure way to happiness. And they may be right. Political scientist Alex aksed 18,000 college students..Instead of being satisfied, most of us merely want more.

[charliedeut]

All through history.

[keannu]

Is it always so or does it change depending on context?

[charliedeut]

I believe you could say "According to wise men throughout the Middle Ages/Renaissance" in order to set a more specific time background.

[keannu]

You seem to be saying it can change depending on context, and I saw such examples in a dictionary. Some examples are interpreted as a short term, and some as long term. So it's quite tricky, I don't know how to interprete it properly in each case.

[Tdol]

C*nt*xt

[charliedeut]

C*nt*xt

Oh, you foul-mouthed!

[Gillnetter]

Does this "throughout the years" mean "throughout the history" or "for the last few years"?

ja21
ex)According to wise men throughout the years, decreasing your desires is a sure way to happiness. And they may be right. Political scientist Alex aksed 18,000 college students..Instead of being satisfied, most of us merely want more.

Wise men throughout the years = Wise men since the dawning of mankind.
Wise men throughout the 19th Century = Wise men who lived in the 19th Century
Wise men throughout Asia = Wise men who live in Asia.
Wise men throughout Asia in the 17th Century = Wise men who lived in Asia in the 17th Century.
Wise men throughout the transportation industry = Wise men who are currently active in the transportation business.
Wise men throughout the early days of the transportation industry = Wise men in the transportation industry in the past (exact time is undefined, but the time was in the past).

This is not "tricky" at all. One merely has to read the context for clues as to when and where the wise men were.