--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is possible to argue that the really…" description: "\"It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual readers, but rather that which converts the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg" --- # It is possible to argue that the really influential book… ![“It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual readers, but rather that which converts the very few who, at any given moment, succeed in seizing power. Marx and Sorel have been influential in the modern world, not so much because they…” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg) > “It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual readers, but rather that which converts the very few who, at any given moment, succeed in seizing power. Marx and Sorel have been influential in the modern world, not so much because they were best-sellers (Sorel in particular was not at all a widely read author), but because among their few readers were two men, called respectively Lenin and Mussolini.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Influence is measured by the impact on powerful individuals, not by mass readership. **In simple terms:** Powerful ideas matter more than popular ones. Key Takeaway Focus on influencing leaders. Themes influence power elite ideas Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - academic curricula - policy advising - strategic communications Key Concepts political theory social impact leadership propagation Questions to Reflect On - How can a niche work shape history? - Who are today's influential readers? A Different Perspective Mass appeal may not translate to lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modern world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-world/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I've had a lot of really influential people in my life, like my grandmother M. J., who have helped me along the way. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-really-influential-people-in-my-life-like-my/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [My acting teacher in high school was really influential, and we still keep in touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jay-mclaren/my-acting-teacher-in-high-school-was-really-influential-and-we-still/) [Brandon Jay McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jay-mclaren/) > [One of the most influential women of the 20th century? Well, that may be overdoing it. When one thinks of really influential women, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/one-of-the-most-influential-women-of-the-20th-century-well-that-may/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [I was never really that aware of commercial things. The stuff that was really influential to me were bands like the Misfits or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-was-never-really-that-aware-of-commercial-things-the-stuff-that-was/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [Long before I was a writer, when I was just a haphazard reader and a dreamer of stories, I learnt about an influential book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-o-hagan/long-before-i-was-a-writer-when-i-was-just-a-haphazard-reader-and-a/) [Andrew O'Hagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-o-hagan/) > [Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, was published in 1859. It is perhaps the most influential book that has ever been published, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lipson/darwin-s-book-on-the-origin-of-species-was-published-in-1859-it-is/) Henry Lipson > [Reading was such a formative part of my childhood (along with 'Loony Tunes'), that it is difficult to pin point the most influential book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-macdonald/reading-was-such-a-formative-part-of-my-childhood-along-with-loony/) [Ann-Marie MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-macdonald/) > [I grew up as a fan of the original Star Trek series. When I was in middle school, I think in the 6th grade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-d-moore/i-grew-up-as-a-fan-of-the-original-star-trek-series-when-i-was-in/) [Ronald D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-d-moore/) > [ It would be hard to find a more influential book of Biblical studies than his Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic \[1973\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hershel-shanks/it-would-be-hard-to-find-a-more-influential-book-of-biblical-studies/) [Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hershel-shanks/) > [The media was completely influential in the rise and fall of Bonnie and Clyde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-grainger/the-media-was-completely-influential-in-the-rise-and-fall-of-bonnie/) [Holliday Grainger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-grainger/) > [He was so influential on every aspect of my game. I promise you - I would have been another Gianfranco Zola if I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/he-was-so-influential-on-every-aspect-of-my-game-i-promise-you-i/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [You need to fight cases in the courts, but you certainly cannot rely on the courts, you need to testify in Congress and lobby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-cole/you-need-to-fight-cases-in-the-courts-but-you-certainly-cannot-rely/) [David D. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-cole/) > [We've been around long enough that there have certainly been people at every stage of our career telling us about one or another record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/we-ve-been-around-long-enough-that-there-have-certainly-been-people/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual readers, but rather that which converts the very few who, at any given moment, succeed in seizing power. Marx and Sorel have been influential in the modern world, not so much because they were best-sellers (Sorel in particular was not at all a widely read author), but because among their few readers were two men, called respectively Lenin and Mussolini.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Huxley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really-influential-book-is-not-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really-influential-book-is-not-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/aldous-huxley-97_arguing_it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really_2596926.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is possible to argue that the really influential book is not that which converts ten millions of casual…” — Aldous Huxley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aldous Huxley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is possible to argue that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really-influential-book-is-not-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-possible-to-argue-that-the-really-influential-book-is-not-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```