Causes Quote by Daniel Dennett
“In the long run I certainly hope information is the cure for fanaticism, but I am afraid information is more the cause than the cure.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 1995
Information can both enlighten and inflame, often fueling extremism more than resolving it.
In simple terms: Info can spark zeal or calm.
Key Takeaway
Question the source and impact of info.
Themes
knowledge
extremism
media
politics
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- social media
- education policy
- public discourse
Key Concepts
information theory
cognitive bias
propaganda
Questions to Reflect On
- How does info shape belief?
- Can we design better info ecosystems?
A Different Perspective
Info alone won’t fix fanaticism without critical thinking.
![“Snowden has enough [sic] information to cause harm to the U.S. government in a single minute than any other person has ever had. The U.S. government should be on its knees every day begging that nothing happen to Snowden, because if something does happen to him, all the information will be…” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/167/glenn-greenwald-1215_begging_snowden-has-enough-sic-information-to-ca_2136813.jpg)
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)