I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or…
![“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time - [...] when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or…” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/bcb/carl-sagan-160_ability_i-have-a-foreboding-of-an-america-in-my_1789747.jpg)
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time - [...] when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
When power and technology concentrate in a tiny elite, public understanding erodes, leading to superstition and loss of critical thinking.
In simple terms: Concentrated power harms public knowledge and critical thought.
Key Takeaway
Guard democratic oversight and promote scientific literacy.
Themes
democracy
technology
critical thinking
public oversight
media literacy
Mood
concerned
reflective
urgent
Type
cautionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- policy making
- media regulation
- community engagement
- science communication
Key Concepts
elitism
information asymmetry
cognitive decline
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies ensure broad scientific literacy?
- What safeguards prevent elite technological control?
A Different Perspective
Power can be checked by informed citizens, but apathy can dominate.