--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The utility of information is admitted…" description: "\"“The utility of information is admitted practically as well as theoretically; without a literate population a modern State is impossible. But the utili..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/bertrand-russell-69_intelligence_the-utility-of-information-is-admitted-p_3011437.jpg" --- # The utility of information is admitted practically as well… ![“The utility of information is admitted practically as well as theoretically; without a literate population a modern State is impossible. But the utility of intelligence is admitted only theoretically, not practically; it is not desired that ordinary people should think for themselves, because it…” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/bertrand-russell-69_intelligence_the-utility-of-information-is-admitted-p_3011437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/bertrand-russell-69_intelligence_the-utility-of-information-is-admitted-p_3011437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/bertrand-russell-69_intelligence_the-utility-of-information-is-admitted-p_3011437.jpg) > ““The utility of information is admitted practically as well as theoretically; without a literate population a modern State is impossible. But the utility of intelligence is admitted only theoretically, not practically; it is not desired that ordinary people should think for themselves, because it is felt that people who think for themselves are awkward to manage and cause administrative difficulties. Only the guardians, in Plato’s language, are to think; the rest are to obey, or to follow leaders like a herd of sheep.”” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies value information but often suppress independent thought, favoring obedience over critical intelligence. **In simple terms:** Info is valued, intelligence is not. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking. Themes education authority control Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - schools - government policy - media literacy - public discourse Key Concepts critical thinking political theory Questions to Reflect On - Why do leaders fear independent thinkers? - What systems can protect free thought? A Different Perspective Practical implementation of widespread critical thinking faces resistance from entrenched power structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admitted Theoretically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admitted-theoretically-4830817/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Admitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-admitted-4830816/) [Literate Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literate-population-560277/) [Theoretically Literate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theoretically-literate-4830815/) ## Related quotes > [One must always have in mind one simple fact - there is no literate population in the world that is poor, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/one-must-always-have-in-mind-one-simple-fact-there-is-no-literate/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Orthodoxy is the grave of intelligence, no matter what orthodoxy it may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/orthodoxy-is-the-grave-of-intelligence-no-matter-what-orthodoxy-it/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“A smart person learns from his mistakes, but a truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-schramm/a-smart-person-learns-from-his-mistakes-but-a-truly-wise-person/) [Ken Schramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-schramm/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. 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