Public Wants Quote by Edward Albee
““We proceed in this society of ours on the possibly valid but untrue assumption that the public knows what it wants-- indeed, that it is given sufficient information about what is available to make such a judgment. And then we jump, irresponsibly and absurdly, to the notion that there is a valid relationship between what the public wants and what it should want.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The American Dream, 1970
Society assumes the public’s desires are informed and aligned with what they should want, but this link is often false.
In simple terms: Public wants may not be informed or correct.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about public desire.
Themes
media
public opinion
democracy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- advertising
- political campaigns
- product design
Key Concepts
information bias
consumer behavior
policy making
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence shows the public’s wants are uninformed?
- How can we improve public knowledge before decisions?
A Different Perspective
Public opinion can be manipulated, leading to misguided decisions.
