---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Five years ago, people were crying and…"
description: "\"Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the Japanese were about to take over the Earth. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore.\" — Jack Kilby"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg"
---

#  Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the…

![“Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the Japanese were about to take over the Earth. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore.” quote by Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg)

> “Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the Japanese were about to take over the Earth. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore.”

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Public fear of Japanese dominance has faded over time, indicating shifting geopolitical perceptions and reduced existential threats.

**In simple terms:** Japanese influence no longer feels threatening.

Key Takeaway

Stay informed about current global dynamics.

Themes

geopolitics perception history

Mood

relaxed observant

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- news consumption
- policy analysis
- education
- public discourse
- media literacy

Key Concepts

international relations media studies psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers renewed geopolitical anxieties?
- How do media narratives shape public fear?

A Different Perspective

Historical fears may resurface under new conditions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Japanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japanese/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't really know what feeling Japanese or Haitian or American is supposed to feel like. I just feel like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/i-don-t-really-know-what-feeling-japanese-or-haitian-or-american-is/)

[Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/)

> [“On this particular day, there was a woman in line right in front of us. She was in her thirties, smartly but not expensively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/on-this-particular-day-there-was-a-woman-in-line-right-in-front-of-us/)

[Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/)

> [If you re sleeping wake up people are crying man of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-mwila/if-you-re-sleeping-wake-up-people-are-crying-man-of-action/)

Alex Mwila

> [“don't just listen to people crying, hear the reasons why they cry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/don-t-just-listen-to-people-crying-hear-the-reasons-why-they-cry/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [I buried my baby brother this year because of the opioid crisis, I've seen my friends and family, strong miners born and bred in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-jean-swearengin/i-buried-my-baby-brother-this-year-because-of-the-opioid-crisis-i-ve/)

[Paula Jean Swearengin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-jean-swearengin/)

> [All I know is there's thousands of people in the Academy and a lot of them, the majority of them, haven't won Oscars.A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/all-i-know-is-there-s-thousands-of-people-in-the-academy-and-a-lot-of/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [There's nowhere in New York to go and have your emotions to yourself. People just look the other way because every day people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennon-parham/there-s-nowhere-in-new-york-to-go-and-have-your-emotions-to-yourself/)

[Lennon Parham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennon-parham/)

> [We need some creative tension; people crying out for the things they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-need-some-creative-tension-people-crying-out-for-the-things-they/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [“The wind sounds like people crying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-barraclough/the-wind-sounds-like-people-crying/)

[Lindsey Barraclough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-barraclough/)

> [People are crying out for a Conservative Party that is decent, reasonable, common sense and in it for the long term of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/people-are-crying-out-for-a-conservative-party-that-is-decent/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [“But I do not know the people I am crying for anymore. I don't let myself sympathise—I think it would be wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/but-i-do-not-know-the-people-i-am-crying-for-anymore-i-don-t-let/)

[Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/)

> [People are crying up the rich and variegated plumage of the peacock, and he is himself blushing at the sight of his ugly feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/people-are-crying-up-the-rich-and-variegated-plumage-of-the-peacock/)

[Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/)

> [How are we doing in the electronics field as opposed to, you know, we hear how advanced the Japanese are? Do you think we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/how-are-we-doing-in-the-electronics-field-as-opposed-to-you-know-we/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [As a director, it became important to hear that specific role read by that specific actor, and you hear the chemistry, or you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sadler/as-a-director-it-became-important-to-hear-that-specific-role-read-by/)

[William Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sadler/)

> [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/)

[Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/)

## More by Jack Kilby

> [Somewhere in that 20-year period, I would assume that there will be some basically new approach that will begin to cut into it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/somewhere-in-that-20-year-period-i-would-assume-that-there-will-be/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [Well, the thought that everybody might have a personal computer at their desk or their home was certainly not on the mainstream of anybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/well-the-thought-that-everybody-might-have-a-personal-computer-at/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [Today, people tend to credit me with having the original idea and made the first circuits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/today-people-tend-to-credit-me-with-having-the-original-idea-and-made/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [I feel my story has been exercised very thoroughly and very frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/i-feel-my-story-has-been-exercised-very-thoroughly-and-very-frequently/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [It was really a very small company when I started and it changed very rapidly during those first periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/it-was-really-a-very-small-company-when-i-started-and-it-changed-very/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [There was a space program before there was integrated circuits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/there-was-a-space-program-before-there-was-integrated-circuits/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [Well, the big products in electronics in the '50s were radio and television. The first big computers were just beginning to come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/well-the-big-products-in-electronics-in-the-50s-were-radio-and/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [How are we doing in the electronics field as opposed to, you know, we hear how advanced the Japanese are? Do you think we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/how-are-we-doing-in-the-electronics-field-as-opposed-to-you-know-we/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [This could be done in part, because the equipment was very inexpensive. Not much money was involved in tooling so that basic changes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/this-could-be-done-in-part-because-the-equipment-was-very-inexpensive/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [Well, it's very dangerous to project, but it's clear that the existing technology has some more years to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/well-it-s-very-dangerous-to-project-but-it-s-clear-that-the-existing/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [I think I thought it would be important for electronics as we knew it then, but that was a much simpler business and electronics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/i-think-i-thought-it-would-be-important-for-electronics-as-we-knew-it/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [I'm sure there will continue to be exciting new products and major changes, but it looks as if the existing technology has a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/i-m-sure-there-will-continue-to-be-exciting-new-products-and-major/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [The first calculators tended to sell for $400 or $500. Today, you can get a pretty good one for 4 or $5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/the-first-calculators-tended-to-sell-for-400-or-500-today-you-can-get/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [My own interest developed because I thought it was a fascinating subject and something I wanted to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/my-own-interest-developed-because-i-thought-it-was-a-fascinating/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

> [The groups that have awarded them are all a little different. It's a little hard to single out any one for that, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/the-groups-that-have-awarded-them-are-all-a-little-different-it-s-a/)

[Jack Kilby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

[Explore all 24 Jack Kilby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the Japanese were about to take over the Earth. I don't hear that kind of talk anymore.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Kilby"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-feeling-the-japanese-were-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-feeling-the-japanese-were-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/jack-kilby-24760_about_five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-fe_140319.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Five years ago, people were crying and feeling the Japanese were about to take over the Earth. I don't hear…” — Jack Kilby",
                "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": "Jack Kilby",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kilby/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Five years ago, people were crying...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-feeling-the-japanese-were-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kilby/five-years-ago-people-were-crying-and-feeling-the-japanese-were-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
