Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.
Edward R. MurrowRead
We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights society's tendency to avoid uncomfortable truths presented by media.
Edward R. Murrow's quote reflects on the way mass media often serves to distract individuals from unpleasant realities, encouraging a state of complacency. By overlooking the manipulative power of television, society risks being misled, losing awareness of critical issues that demand attention and action. The quote calls for self-awareness and a proactive approach toward understanding the information we consume.
Themes
MediaAwarenessDistractionTruthSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about media influence, one might say, 'As Murrow pointed out, we need to recognize the distractions that keep us from engaging with important issues.'
More from Edward R. Murrow
All quotes →One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles.
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Speaking of Sir Winston Churchill: He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.
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We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
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The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.
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The best speakers know enough to be scared…the only difference between the pros and the novices is that the pros have trained the butterflies to fly in formation.
Edward R. MurrowRead
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