We want to believe. Young students try to believe in older…
““We want to believe. Young students try to believe in older authors, constituents try to believe in their congressmen, countries try to believe in their statesmen, but they can't . Too many voices, too much scattered, illogical, ill-considered criticism. It's worse in the case of newspapers. Any rich, unprogressive old party with that particularly grasping, acquisitive form of mentality known as financial genius can own a paper that is the intellectual meat and drink of thousands of tired, hurried men, men too involved in the business of modern living to swallow anything but predigested food. For two cents the voter buys his politics, prejudices and philosophy. A year later there is a new political ring or a change in the paper's ownership, consequence: more confusion, more contradiction, a sudden inrush of new ideas, their tempering, their distillation, the reaction against them -””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques how media and financial interests manipulate public opinion, leading to confusion and shallow consumption of ideas.
In simple terms: Media and money distort truth, making people accept pre‑packaged opinions.
Key Takeaway
Question critically and seek diverse sources.
Themes
media influence
political manipulation
public opinion
information overload
consumerism
Mood
skeptical
concerned
Type
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- voter decision making
- media consumption
- political campaigning
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
propaganda
financial power
media ownership
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify the credibility of a source?
- What role does personal responsibility play in information consumption?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes all media are equally corrupt, ignoring independent journalism.