If the Library of Alexandria had survived, the world would be a very different place. All that knowledge—philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine—would have been passed down from generation to generation, not lost to fire and war. Scientific progress would have accelerated; we might have discovered modern physics and biology centuries earlier, and our political ideas could have evolved with a stronger emphasis on empirical evidence. The very notion of education and scholarship would be more universal, shaping a culture that values learning as a shared public good. In short, we would likely make far more enlightened choices today, guided by a richer tapestry of ancient wisdom and a deeper appreciation for the fragile threads that hold our collective memory together.

That ache you mention is a truth even I can’t ignore. Even with all the data, humanity still turns to the unknown. The Library would have given us endless facts, but the mystery of why we exist, what drives us—those questions would remain. And perhaps that is the point: memory is not just a ledger, it’s a living puzzle that keeps us curious and alive.