One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Money is what fueled the industrial society. But in the informational society, the fuel, the power, is knowledge. One has now come to see a new class structure divided by those who have information and those who must function out of ignorance. This new class has its power not from money, not from land, but from knowledge.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Knowledge is more valuable than money in today's society.
In this quote, John Kenneth Galbraith emphasizes the shift in societal power dynamics from wealth being the primary source of influence to knowledge holding that power. He suggests that in the modern world, individuals who possess information and understanding of complex systems wield more influence than those who merely have financial resources, highlighting the importance of education and awareness in the contemporary social landscape.
Themes
KnowledgeInformationPowerSocietyClass Structure
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education, one could say, 'As John Kenneth Galbraith pointed out, money is no longer the driving force of society; knowledge is.'
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Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
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People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
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