Chance Quote by Evgeny Morozov

“It is easy to be seen as either a genius or a crank. If you have a Ph.D., at least you somewhat lower the chances that you will be seen as a crank.” quote by Evgeny Morozov — Download Open image

“It is easy to be seen as either a genius or a crank. If you have a Ph.D., at least you somewhat lower the chances that you will be seen as a crank.”

Evgeny Morozov

About This Quote

Source Book: The Net Delusion by Evgeny Morozov, 2011

Having a Ph.D. can reduce the risk of being dismissed as a crank, but brilliance and eccentricity are still perceived differently.

In simple terms: Ph.D. lowers chance of being seen as a crank.

Key Takeaway

Earn credibility, but stay humble.

Themes

credibility perception expertise

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

critical observational

When to use this quote

academic hiring
public speaking
media interviews
grant proposals

Key Concepts

social labeling status intellectual humility

Questions to Reflect On

How does formal education affect how others view your ideas?
Can expertise be a double‑edged sword?

A Different Perspective

Even with credentials, bias may persist; expertise doesn't guarantee acceptance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.2 out of 5 (9 ratings)

Chance Crank Easy Either Genius Genius Crank Intelligence Lower Chances Seen Seen Crank Seen Genius Will

More by Evgeny Morozov

“If Amazon’s dream of a world without gatekeepers becomes reality, then the company itself will become a powerful gatekeeper.”

Evgeny Morozov

Image

I spent two years in Palo Alto - what an awful, suffocating place for those of us who don't care about yoga, yogurts and…

Evgeny Morozov

Image

For many oppositional movements, the Internet, while providing the opportunity to distribute information more quickly and cheaper, may have actually made their struggle more…

Evgeny Morozov

Image

To fully absorb the lessons of the Internet, urge the Internet-centrists, we need to reshape our political and social institutions in its image.

Evgeny Morozov

Image

As Barbara Streisand discovered, adopting a militaristic posture against a tech-savvy mob of civil libertarians is not going to be of much help: Many…

Evgeny Morozov

Image

The Egyptian experience suggests that social media can greatly accelerate the death of already dying authoritarian regimes.

Evgeny Morozov

Image

In business, standards establish the rules of the game, creating path dependencies as investments are made and corresponding designs are set in stone and…

Evgeny Morozov

Image

Military commanders do not want to be tried for war crimes, even if those crimes are committed online.

Evgeny Morozov

Image

When we get the remote Russian village online, what will get people to the Internet is not going to be reports from Human Rights…

Evgeny Morozov

Image

“To reject solutionism is to transcend the narrow-minded rationalistic mindset that recasts every instance of an efficiency deficit [...] as an obstacle that needs…

Evgeny Morozov