In the past, censorship worked by blocking the flow of…
![“In the past, censorship worked by blocking the flow of information. In the twenty-first century, censorship works by flooding people with irrelevant information. [...] In ancient times having power meant having access to data. Today having power means knowing what to ignore.” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/35b/yuval-noah-harari-100_blocking_in-the-past-censorship-worked-by-blockin_2786788.jpg)
““In the past, censorship worked by blocking the flow of information. In the twenty-first century, censorship works by flooding people with irrelevant information. [...] In ancient times having power meant having access to data. Today having power means knowing what to ignore.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern censorship drowns people in irrelevant data, while true power lies in knowing what to ignore.
In simple terms: Ignore noise to stay powerful.
Key Takeaway
Practice selective attention.
Themes
information overload
media
power
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- research
- decision making
Key Concepts
censorship
attention economy
Questions to Reflect On
- What information do you filter out?
- How do you decide what’s essential?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring can also lead to missing vital info.