--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The internet was supposed to liberate…" description: "\"The internet was supposed to liberate knowledge, but in fact it buried it, first under a vast sewer of ignorance, laziness, bigotry, superstition and f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/ben-elton-12329_afar_the-internet-was-supposed-to-liberate-kn_1341576.png" --- # The internet was supposed to liberate knowledge, but in… ![“The internet was supposed to liberate knowledge, but in fact it buried it, first under a vast sewer of ignorance, laziness, bigotry, superstition and filth and then beneath the cloak of political surveillance. Now...cyberspace exists exclusively to promote commerce, gossip and pornography. And of…” quote by Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/ben-elton-12329_afar_the-internet-was-supposed-to-liberate-kn_1341576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/ben-elton-12329_afar_the-internet-was-supposed-to-liberate-kn_1341576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/ben-elton-12329_afar_the-internet-was-supposed-to-liberate-kn_1341576.png) > “The internet was supposed to liberate knowledge, but in fact it buried it, first under a vast sewer of ignorance, laziness, bigotry, superstition and filth and then beneath the cloak of political surveillance. Now...cyberspace exists exclusively to promote commerce, gossip and pornography. And of course to hunt down sedition. Only paper is safe. Books are the key. A book cannot be accessed from afar, you have to hold it, you have to read it.” [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The internet promised open access but now overwhelms with misinformation and surveillance, making physical books the only reliable source. **In simple terms:** Internet failed to free knowledge; books remain safe. Key Takeaway Trust printed books over digital sources. Themes knowledge media surveillance trust books Mood cautious critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - research - reading - education - privacy protection Key Concepts information overload digital decay privacy erosion Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard knowledge online? - What role should libraries play today? A Different Perspective Digital platforms can still be curated responsibly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Buried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buried/) [Cloaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloaks/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Cyberspace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyberspace/) [Cyberspace Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyberspace-exists-4534148/) [E commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/e-commerce/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Filth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filth/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Hunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunts/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Internet Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-supposed-1327166/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Liberate Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberate-knowledge-4534149/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Pornography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornography/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Superstitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitions/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Surveillance Cyberspace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance-cyberspace-4534150/) ## Related quotes > [Cyberspace still exists at the pleasure of the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/cyberspace-still-exists-at-the-pleasure-of-the-real-world/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I'm kind of concerned the combined effect, not only Google, all these companies is kind of to make us more boring and that seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/i-m-kind-of-concerned-the-combined-effect-not-only-google-all-these/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [The Internet was supposed to be the greatest tool of global communications and means of sharing knowledge in human history. And it is. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/the-internet-was-supposed-to-be-the-greatest-tool-of-global/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [Seem to be getting dumber and dumber. I mean we have all this amazing technology and yet computers have turned into basically four figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-moody/seem-to-be-getting-dumber-and-dumber-i-mean-we-have-all-this-amazing/) [Hank Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-moody/) > [The Internet was supposed to bring people together, but it's created big divisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogowsky/the-internet-was-supposed-to-bring-people-together-but-it-s-created/) [Scott Rogowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogowsky/) > [The internet was supposed to homogenize everyone by connecting us all. Instead what it's allowed is silos of interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-internet-was-supposed-to-homogenize-everyone-by-connecting-us-all/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [When you find yourself on the Internet when you're supposed to be writing, you've already lost. It's even beyond procrastination when you end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/when-you-find-yourself-on-the-internet-when-you-re-supposed-to-be/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [The Internet was supposed to be the great equalizer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bianchini/the-internet-was-supposed-to-be-the-great-equalizer/) [Gina Bianchini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bianchini/) > [Human rights in cyberspace are really no different from rights in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/human-rights-in-cyberspace-are-really-no-different-from-rights-in-the/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The simulator is the stage in-between television and virtual reality, a moment, a phase. The simulator is a moment that leads to cyberspace, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/the-simulator-is-the-stage-in-between-television-and-virtual-reality/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [We need to wage this war against ISIS from the air, on the ground, and online, in cyberspace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-wage-this-war-against-isis-from-the-air-on-the-ground-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [As we now know, cyberspace did not liberate human society from pre-existing socioeconomic hierarchies and power structures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/as-we-now-know-cyberspace-did-not-liberate-human-society-from-pre/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) > [Instead of mindlessly tossing billions at or taking billions from the Net as such, investors should be spending their time making sure that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/instead-of-mindlessly-tossing-billions-at-or-taking-billions-from-the/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [Galloping advances in technology mean important changes in the work we do to keep the United States secure not just through air, land and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/galloping-advances-in-technology-mean-important-changes-in-the-work/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Cyberspace' is a metaphorical idea which is supposed to be the space where your consciousness is located when you're using computer technology on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/cyberspace-is-a-metaphorical-idea-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-space/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) ## More by Ben Elton > [ “\[H\]e was damned if he was going to water down his arguments simply to satisfy the preference of the mob for dogma and ignorance.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/h-e-was-damned-if-he-was-going-to-water-down-his-arguments-simply-to/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [“People in that crowd want to make poverty history, but NOT if they have to pay for it themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/people-in-that-crowd-want-to-make-poverty-history-but-not-if-they/) [ben elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [We've all got to look at ourselves, start with yourself, that's all you can do. I believe that we can act responsibly as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/we-ve-all-got-to-look-at-ourselves-start-with-yourself-that-s-all-you/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [“We've just lost our way, that's all. But what if you could give us a chance to do better? Just one chance? One single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/we-ve-just-lost-our-way-that-s-all-but-what-if-you-could-give-us-a/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [I try hard not to preach, but I get carried away, which is a mistake, but it's a risk worth running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/i-try-hard-not-to-preach-but-i-get-carried-away-which-is-a-mistake/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [Artists don't create society, they reflect it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/artists-don-t-create-society-they-reflect-it/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [The earth only has so much bounty to offer and inventing ever larger and more notional prices for that bounty does not change its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/the-earth-only-has-so-much-bounty-to-offer-and-inventing-ever-larger/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [My advice to anyone adapting a novel is that once they've read it and learnt to understand it, then they must throw it away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/my-advice-to-anyone-adapting-a-novel-is-that-once-they-ve-read-it-and/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [My parents were secular. I am an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/my-parents-were-secular-i-am-an-atheist/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [“New York will always seem more real than anything Britain has to offer. It is strange that, although the majority of British people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/new-york-will-always-seem-more-real-than-anything-britain-has-to/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [Yes, OK, farty is a silly word. I wish I'd never used it. I'm 34. Perhaps it was a word for my 20s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/yes-ok-farty-is-a-silly-word-i-wish-i-d-never-used-it-i-m-34-perhaps/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [I think it is very difficult to legislate for morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/i-think-it-is-very-difficult-to-legislate-for-morality/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [If I did things for the money, I'd have done adverts in the 1980s, when I was hot enough to be offered them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/if-i-did-things-for-the-money-i-d-have-done-adverts-in-the-1980s-when/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [“To positively discriminate in favour of groups that have been negatively discriminated against in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/to-positively-discriminate-in-favour-of-groups-that-have-been/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [You're mugging old ladies every bit as much if you pinch their pension fund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/you-re-mugging-old-ladies-every-bit-as-much-if-you-pinch-their/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) [Explore all 55 Ben Elton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) ## More Afar quotes > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [“Can I like you from afar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-bernardino/can-i-like-you-from-afar/) [Bianca Bernardino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-bernardino/) > [Religion exalts mystery as an unknowable secret that must be sealed in glass like the corpse of an enchanted princess and fearfully worshipped from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-milo-duquette/religion-exalts-mystery-as-an-unknowable-secret-that-must-be-sealed/) [Lon Milo DuQuette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lon-milo-duquette/) > [Ah, my brother, it is a far harder thing, and it is afar higher proof of a thorough-going, persistent, Christian principle woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-my-brother-it-is-a-far-harder-thing-and-it-is-afar-higher-proof-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blessed-is-the-servant-who-loves-his-brother-as-much-when-he-is-sick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I wasn't a 'Battlestar' fan, but I had a lot of respect for the show. I had a lot of friends who worked on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-roiz/i-wasn-t-a-battlestar-fan-but-i-had-a-lot-of-respect-for-the-show-i/) [Sasha Roiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-roiz/) > [Kindle the taper like the steadfast star Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre till afar An eightfold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-lazarus/kindle-the-taper-like-the-steadfast-star-ablaze-on-evening-s-forehead/) [Emma Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-lazarus/) > [Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/our-birth-is-but-a-sleep-and-a-forgetting-the-soul-that-rises-with-us-2/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [There is so much more to the things that we think we know from afar. The close you get the more complex it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meiselas/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-things-that-we-think-we-know-from-afar/) [Susan Meiselas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meiselas/) > [There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-good-government-when-those-who-are-near-are-made-happy-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I like Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Aaron Featherstone, normal Chanel if I can ever afford it, I'd be wearing that all the time!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-like-stella-mccartney-chloe-alexander-mcqueen-aaron-featherstone/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [The New England Patriots have always been a special organization and I've always watched from afar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/the-new-england-patriots-have-always-been-a-special-organization-and/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Time past, present, and to come, as also depth and height, near and afar off, are all one in God, one comprehensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/time-past-present-and-to-come-as-also-depth-and-height-near-and-afar/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [In the glory which overhangs Palestine afar off, we imagine emotions which never come, when we tread the soil and walk over the hallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/in-the-glory-which-overhangs-palestine-afar-off-we-imagine-emotions/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) [Browse all 212 Afar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The internet was supposed to liberate knowledge, but in fact it buried it, first under a vast sewer of ignorance, laziness, bigotry, superstition and filth and then beneath the cloak of political surveillance. 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