Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
Samuel ButlerRead
The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that of educating people to approach printed matter with distrust.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the critical role of the media in fostering critical thinking and skepticism among the audience.
Samuel Butler's quote highlights the essential function of the press and magazines in not just conveying information, but also in educating readers to critically evaluate the content they consume. By encouraging a healthy skepticism towards printed material, the media empowers individuals to discern truth from misinformation, thus fostering a more informed and critical populace.
Themes
MediaEducationSkepticismPressCritical Thinking
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on media literacy, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of critical engagement with news.
More from Samuel Butler
All quotes βTo know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him.
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Academic and aristocratic people live in such an uncommon atmosphere that common sense can rarely reach them.
Samuel ButlerRead
An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
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Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.
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People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.
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