Anxiety Quote by James Gleick
““Another way to speak of the anxiety is in terms of the gap between information and knowledge. A barrage of data so often fails to tell us what we need to know. Knowledge, in turn, does not guarantee enlightenment or wisdom. ( Eliot said that, too: “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? / Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”) It is an ancient observation, but one that seemed to bear restating when information became plentiful—particularly in a world where all bits are created equal and information is divorced from meaning. The humanist and philosopher of technology Lewis Mumford , for example, restated it in 1970: “Unfortunately, ‘information retrieving,’ however swift, is no substitute for discovering by direct personal inspection knowledge whose very existence one had possibly never been aware of, and following it at one’s own pace through the further ramification of relevant literature.” He begged for a return to “moral self-discipline.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood by James Gleick, 2011
The quote highlights the gap between raw data and true understanding, warning that abundant information alone does not produce wisdom or insight.
In simple terms: Data alone isn’t wisdom; we need personal insight.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond data.
Themes
information
knowledge
wisdom
technology
humanism
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- decision making
- media consumption
- personal growth
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
philosophy of technology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate valuable knowledge from mere data?
- What practices help turn information into wisdom?
A Different Perspective
Abundant data can overwhelm and mislead without proper discernment.
