The British media is sinking down, as the American news media has lowered the bar for all of humanity. British news media is definitely trying to stoop down to that level. Everyone is stooping to the lowest common denominator.
John OliverRead
You don't need people’s opinion on a fact. You might as well have a poll asking: ‘Which number is bigger, 15 or 5?’ or ‘Do owls exist?’ or ‘Are there hats?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Opinions do not change objective facts, and asking for them can be absurd.
This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing that certain truths are not open for debate. Objective facts exist independently of people's opinions, and seeking consensus on obvious truths can lead to nonsensical discussions that detract from the importance of factual understanding.
Themes
FactsOpinionTruthDebateWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about climate change, one can quote this to emphasize that science shouldn't be swayed by public opinion.
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Australia turns out to be a sensational place, albeit one of the most comfortably racist places I've ever been in. They've really settled into their intolerance like an old resentful slipper.
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I watch one news channel until my soul can't take it anymore. It's the background of my life.
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My first 'Daily Show' piece was pretending I had this terrible immigrant journey, so I went to talk to an immigration lawyer who would help out people, and I ran into him in Penn Station about three months after I'd gotten the green card. I said, 'I got my green card yesterday.' And he hugged me because he understood that level of relief.
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Southern people are bigger-hearted and kinder than I had any right to expect.
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