--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Governments don't want a population…" description: "\"Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg" --- # Governments don't want a population capable of critical… ![“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important…” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg) > “Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own, and control the corporations. They've long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear.” [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## 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 claims that those in power suppress critical thinking to keep people obedient and dependent, maintaining control through ownership of resources and media. **In simple terms:** Powerful elites keep people unthinking and obedient. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek independent information. Themes power control critical thinking media influence social inequality Mood skeptical defiant urgent Type political social philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - education reform - media literacy - community organizing Key Concepts authoritarianism propaganda economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify truly independent sources? - What steps can you take to think critically despite pressures? A Different Perspective The claim may overgeneralize complex political and economic systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Critical thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-thinking/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The true friend of property, the true conservative, is he who insists that property shall be the servant and not the master of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-true-friend-of-property-the-true-conservative-is-he-who-insists/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [You want at least 5% of the population being serious. That five, 6% of the population carries the rest of the people. You've heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-want-at-least-5-of-the-population-being-serious-that-five-6-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The founders did not want population centers to dictate to the rest of the country. They had already seen that happen in Europe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-founders-did-not-want-population-centers-to-dictate-to-the-rest/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's really five companies who control 90% of what we read, see, and hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/there-s-really-five-companies-who-control-90-of-what-we-read-see-and/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [With technology today, companies are less in control of their brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/with-technology-today-companies-are-less-in-control-of-their-brand/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Where we once had a lot of independent businesses, a lot of local businesses, a lot of variety, we now actually just see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/where-we-once-had-a-lot-of-independent-businesses-a-lot-of-local/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [When a small number of companies control both the generation and the supply of energy, it's difficult for new players to enter the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/when-a-small-number-of-companies-control-both-the-generation-and-the/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [The media is too concentrated, too few people own too much. There's really five companies that control 90 percent of what we read, see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-media-is-too-concentrated-too-few-people-own-too-much-there-s/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [It's often taken for granted that the most dominant tech companies control the world's most important technology and communications platforms. Instead, the truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borje-ekholm/it-s-often-taken-for-granted-that-the-most-dominant-tech-companies/) [Borje Ekholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borje-ekholm/) > [You can't fight City Hall, but you can goddamn sure blow it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-can-t-fight-city-hall-but-you-can-goddamn-sure-blow-it-up/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“But there’s a reason. There’s a reason. There’s a reason for this, there’s a reason education sucks, and it’s the same reason that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/but-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason-for-this-there/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/forget-the-politicians-the-politicians-are-put-there-to-give-you-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by George Carlin > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... 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Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own, and control the corporations. They've long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Carlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/george-carlin-155_accepting_governments-don-t-want-a-population-capa_2770136.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just…” — George Carlin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Carlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Governments don't want a population capable...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```