Attention Quote by Howard Zinn
“We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts appeared before us, startled us, and then caused us to question beliefs that were strongly fixed in our consciousness-embedded there by years of family prejudices, orthodox schooling, imbibing of newspapers, radio, and television. This would seem to lead to a simple conclusion: that we all have an enormous responsibility to bring to the attention of others information they do not have, which has the potential of causing them to rethink long-held ideas.”
About This Quote
People are not born critical; unexpected facts can shatter ingrained beliefs, creating a duty to share new information that may prompt others to rethink.
In simple terms: We inherit fixed views; new facts can challenge them, urging us to inform others.
Key Takeaway
Share insights that challenge assumptions.
Themes
critical thinking
responsibility
social change
Mood
thoughtful
motivational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- media consumption
- family upbringing
- political discourse
Key Concepts
information diffusion
cognitive dissonance
Practical Applications
- share a surprising fact with a friend
- write a post highlighting overlooked perspectives
Questions to Reflect On
- What fact has most shifted your view?
- How can you present challenging ideas without alienating others?
A Different Perspective
Potentially overwhelming without context; may trigger defensiveness
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
