QuoteProject
True literacy is becoming an arcane art, and the nation is steadily "dumbing down."
Isaac Asimov
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True literacy is increasingly rare and diminishing in society, leading to a decline in critical thinking and understanding.

Isaac Asimov's quote highlights the concerning decline in genuine literacy and critical thinking skills within society. He suggests that as literacy becomes an 'arcane art,' it implies that true understanding is fading away, and this loss negatively impacts the intellectual capabilities of the nation as it risks becoming less informed or 'dumbed down.'

Themes

LiteracyEducationCritical ThinkingSocietyDecline

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the importance of reading in schools, one could say, 'As Asimov pointed out, true literacy is becoming an arcane art.'

More from Isaac Asimov

Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Isaac AsimovRead
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Isaac AsimovRead
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Isaac AsimovRead
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
Isaac AsimovRead
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
Isaac AsimovRead
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
Isaac AsimovRead

Similar quotes

In teaching, the other main problem related to type is the students’ interest. Intuitives and sensing types differ greatly in what they find interesting in any subject even if they like, that is, are interested in, the same subjects. Intuitives like the principle, the theory, the why. Sensing types like the practical application, the what and the how.
Isabel Briggs MyersRead
If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.
Frank ZappaRead
Schools are designed on the assumption that there is a secret to everything in life; that the quality of life depends upon knowing that secret; that secrets can only be known in orderly successions; and that only teachers can properly reveal these secrets. An individual with a schooled mind conceives of the world as a pyramid of classified packages accessible only to those who carry the proper tags.
Ivan IllichRead
Graduation is not the conclusion of an achievement but simply the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter
Thomas S. MonsonRead
I was not a good student. I did not spend much _x000D_ time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself.
Stephen HawkingRead
I went to what can only be described as a slum school in Salford - rough and full of trainee punks - but I was very lucky in that I had one inspiring teacher, John Malone, who gave the whole class an interest in romantic poetry.
John Cooper ClarkeRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.