--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can we imagine the United States without…" description: "\"Can we imagine the United States without electricity? No, that would be pretty hard. Likewise, we can't really imagine being without an open Internet. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/alexis-ohanian-4303_cost_can-we-imagine-the-united-states-without_1217169.png" --- # Can we imagine the United States without electricity? No… ![“Can we imagine the United States without electricity? No, that would be pretty hard. Likewise, we can't really imagine being without an open Internet. The cost would be so grave, so serious.” quote by Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/alexis-ohanian-4303_cost_can-we-imagine-the-united-states-without_1217169.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/alexis-ohanian-4303_cost_can-we-imagine-the-united-states-without_1217169.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/alexis-ohanian-4303_cost_can-we-imagine-the-united-states-without_1217169.png) > “Can we imagine the United States without electricity? No, that would be pretty hard. Likewise, we can't really imagine being without an open Internet. The cost would be so grave, so serious.” [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## 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 stresses how essential electricity and the open Internet are to modern life, implying their loss would be catastrophic. **In simple terms:** Electricity and open Internet are vital. Key Takeaway Recognize and protect critical infrastructure. Themes technology dependence society Mood concerned reflective Type advisory observational When to use this quote - business planning - policy making - personal digital habits Key Concepts infrastructure digital rights public good Questions to Reflect On - How would daily life change without these utilities? - What policies protect internet openness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Electricity Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity-pretty-3713612/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Internet Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-cost-3713610/) [Open Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-internet-587518/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-electricity-3713611/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I believe an open Internet is essential to the flow of information, goods and services that will grow Vermont's economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-scott/i-believe-an-open-internet-is-essential-to-the-flow-of-information/) [Phil Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-scott/) > [“An open internet is an open platform for debating opposing views. It allows unpopular voices to be heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/an-open-internet-is-an-open-platform-for-debating-opposing-views-it/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [A free and open Internet should not have to be weighed down by legal challenges - its dynamism is essential to our economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-eshoo/a-free-and-open-internet-should-not-have-to-be-weighed-down-by-legal/) [Anna Eshoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-eshoo/) > [The only people who don’t love apps are pundits who don’t understand that apps aren’t really in opposition to the open Internet. They’re just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gruber/the-only-people-who-don-t-love-apps-are-pundits-who-don-t-understand/) [John Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gruber/) > [A free and open Internet is crucial for innovation and the exchange of information and ideas. It allows grassroots communities to organize and mobilize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/a-free-and-open-internet-is-crucial-for-innovation-and-the-exchange/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [We are now in a situation in which we will have to rely on market forces to maintain a free and open Internet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/we-are-now-in-a-situation-in-which-we-will-have-to-rely-on-market/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [We all have an interest in an open Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/we-all-have-an-interest-in-an-open-internet/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [As each year and debate passes, more broadband companies will start to see that their future lies not in restricting an open Internet but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/as-each-year-and-debate-passes-more-broadband-companies-will-start-to/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [We have to ensure free and open exchange of information. That starts with an open internet. I will take a backseat to no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-to-ensure-free-and-open-exchange-of-information-that-starts/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I support a free and open Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/i-support-a-free-and-open-internet/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [Some claim that the Obama FCC's regulations are necessary to protect Internet openness. History proves this assertion false. We had a free and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/some-claim-that-the-obama-fcc-s-regulations-are-necessary-to-protect/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [I have worked on open Internet, speech, and entrepreneurship issues for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/i-have-worked-on-open-internet-speech-and-entrepreneurship-issues-for/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [A free and open Internet is a despot's worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-samit/a-free-and-open-internet-is-a-despot-s-worst-enemy/) [Jay Samit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-samit/) > [A 'free and open' Internet has been an article of faith in and around Mountain View, Menlo Park, and its environs for two decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/a-free-and-open-internet-has-been-an-article-of-faith-in-and-around/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [I intend to protect a free and open internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community, and help folks build the fastest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-intend-to-protect-a-free-and-open-internet-extend-its-reach-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Alexis Ohanian > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Let's say you're all worried about student-loan debt and you need to have steady income. That doesn't have to be your everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/let-s-say-you-re-all-worried-about-student-loan-debt-and-you-need-to/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. 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We want bills that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/until-we-actually-get-legislation-that-protects-our-rights-online-we/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I often think of a quote from entrepreneur Jim Rohn: 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-often-think-of-a-quote-from-entrepreneur-jim-rohn-you-are-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Because it's so empowering, I want people to think about being entrepreneurial regardless. They don't have to start companies, but that's what makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/because-it-s-so-empowering-i-want-people-to-think-about-being/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [People want a remarkable experience; it's what they'll talk about, largely because the bar has been set so low by so many companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/people-want-a-remarkable-experience-it-s-what-they-ll-talk-about/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-understanding-that-i-am-not/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [If I didn't believe in rooting for founders and investing in founders, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/if-i-didn-t-believe-in-rooting-for-founders-and-investing-in-founders/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I try to help founders as much as I can, but so many of us we won't even take meetings with people who still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-try-to-help-founders-as-much-as-i-can-but-so-many-of-us-we-won-t/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first version of everything is janky,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-first-version-of-everything-is-janky/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) [Explore all 113 Alexis Ohanian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## More Cost quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. 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