--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Folks with their wits about them knew…" description: "\"Folks with their wits about them knew that advertisements were just a pack of lies - you had only to look at the claims of patent medicines!\" — Frances..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/frances-parkinson-keyes-34406_advertisements_folks-with-their-wits-about-them-knew-th_2391034.jpg" --- # Folks with their wits about them knew that advertisements… ![“Folks with their wits about them knew that advertisements were just a pack of lies - you had only to look at the claims of patent medicines!” quote by Frances Parkinson Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/frances-parkinson-keyes-34406_advertisements_folks-with-their-wits-about-them-knew-th_2391034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/frances-parkinson-keyes-34406_advertisements_folks-with-their-wits-about-them-knew-th_2391034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/frances-parkinson-keyes-34406_advertisements_folks-with-their-wits-about-them-knew-th_2391034.jpg) > “Folks with their wits about them knew that advertisements were just a pack of lies - you had only to look at the claims of patent medicines!” [Frances Parkinson Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-parkinson-keyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques advertising, especially patent medicines, as deceptive and full of false claims, urging skepticism. **In simple terms:** Ads, especially old medicines, are deceptive. Key Takeaway Question advertising claims. Themes skepticism consumer protection truth media literacy Mood cautious critical Type critical media literacy When to use this quote - consumer decisions - regulatory policy - historical analysis Key Concepts advertising patent medicines false claims public perception Questions to Reflect On - How can you verify product claims? - What role should regulation play? A Different Perspective Modern ads also contain misleading tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Patents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patents/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) ## Related quotes > [With a few honorable exceptions the press of the United States is at the beck and call of the patent medicines. 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