--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The modern world is drowning in…" description: "\"“The modern world is drowning in information. We have more data than we can possibly use regarding nearly every picayune matter of society, economics, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg" --- # The modern world is drowning in information. We have more… ![“The modern world is drowning in information. We have more data than we can possibly use regarding nearly every picayune matter of society, economics, and politics. Science has contributed to this tsunami of facts and figures, but Riley's reports demonstrated that the tidal wave of minutiae is…” quote by Jeffrey A. Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg) > ““The modern world is drowning in information. We have more data than we can possibly use regarding nearly every picayune matter of society, economics, and politics. Science has contributed to this tsunami of facts and figures, but Riley's reports demonstrated that the tidal wave of minutiae is hardly unique to our time. In every age the challenge has been to move from information to knowledge. And the value of experts lies in their capacity to extract meaning from the reams of facts. Rather than being swamped by raw data, the connoisseur, craftsman, engineer, clinician, or scientist is selectively and self-consciously blind. Knowing what to ignore, recognizing what is extraneous, is the key to deriving pattern, form, and insight.”” [Jeffrey A. Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-lockwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inundated with data, expertise lies in selective attention—ignoring noise to extract meaningful patterns and knowledge. **In simple terms:** Experts filter out irrelevant data to find insight. Key Takeaway Practice selective focus to gain insight. Themes information overload expertise knowledge extraction Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research analysis - policy making - clinical diagnosis Key Concepts selective attention critical thinking pattern recognition Questions to Reflect On - What criteria guide your filtering? - How do you stay open to novel information? A Different Perspective Filtering may miss unexpected signals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Data Connoisseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data-connoisseur-3614671/) [Information Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-data-733269/) [Information knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-knowledge/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-value-2675133/) [Modern world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-world/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Over the years, online, we've laid down a huge amount of information and data, and we irrigate it with networks and connectivity, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccandless/over-the-years-online-we-ve-laid-down-a-huge-amount-of-information/) [David McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccandless/) > [Data is the new soil, because for me, it feels like a fertile, creative medium. Over the years, online, we've laid down a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccandless/data-is-the-new-soil-because-for-me-it-feels-like-a-fertile-creative/) [David Mccandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccandless/) > [The best decision-makers are always armed with the best information and data!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-raveling/the-best-decision-makers-are-always-armed-with-the-best-information/) [George Raveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-raveling/) > [You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keys-moran/you-can-have-data-without-information-but-you-cannot-have-information/) [Daniel Keys Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keys-moran/) > [“As knowledge is acquired it must be organized and put into use, for a definite purpose, through practical plans. Knowledge has no value except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/as-knowledge-is-acquired-it-must-be-organized-and-put-into-use-for-a/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-is-of-no-value-unless-you-put-it-into-practice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Knowledge has no value or use for the solitary owner: to be enjoyed it must be communicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-pratt-1st-earl-camden/knowledge-has-no-value-or-use-for-the-solitary-owner-to-be-enjoyed-it/) [Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-pratt-1st-earl-camden/) > [“Esteem intelligence, cherish knowledge, and value understanding, but trust wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/esteem-intelligence-cherish-knowledge-and-value-understanding-but/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Knowledge has no value except that which can be gained from its application toward some worthy end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/knowledge-has-no-value-except-that-which-can-be-gained-from-its/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Knowledge is of more value than gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/knowledge-is-of-more-value-than-gold/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Is then thy knowledge of no value, unless another know that thou possessest that knowledge?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aulus-persius-flaccus/is-then-thy-knowledge-of-no-value-unless-another-know-that-thou/) [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aulus-persius-flaccus/) > [Creativity is the crucial variable in the process of turning knowledge into value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/creativity-is-the-crucial-variable-in-the-process-of-turning/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Knowledge of any value can't be given. It must be sought and earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/knowledge-of-any-value-can-t-be-given-it-must-be-sought-and-earned/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I am someone who values knowledge, actual knowledge. I also value stories and fiction a whole lot, and that's where the fake knowledge comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-am-someone-who-values-knowledge-actual-knowledge-i-also-value/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“We believe that information is an enlightening agent, but I can assure you it is not. We consume information, but we can’t read. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-f-georgy/we-believe-that-information-is-an-enlightening-agent-but-i-can-assure/) [R.F. Georgy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-f-georgy/) ## More by Jeffrey A. Lockwood > [“Ecology is beginning to slowly shift focus with tentative explorations of what the world would look like if process, rather than matter were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/ecology-is-beginning-to-slowly-shift-focus-with-tentative/) [Jeffrey A. Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-lockwood/) > [“The epiphany was simply tucked away for consideration after we were back on campus. Sometimes a revelation comes with a flash of heavenly light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/the-epiphany-was-simply-tucked-away-for-consideration-after-we-were/) [Jeffrey A. Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-lockwood/) [Explore all 3 Jeffrey A. Lockwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-lockwood/) ## More Data quotes > [Information is money, but data is squat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-llama-butler/information-is-money-but-data-is-squat/) [Angela Llama-Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-llama-butler/) > [“ data analytics consulting Perceptive Analtyics is a data analytic company and a trusted advisor to its clients across domains. Click to know more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastianmax/data-analytics-consulting-perceptive-analtyics-is-a-data-analytic/) [SebastianMax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastianmax/) > [The information nation took their clues from all the sound bite gluttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/the-information-nation-took-their-clues-from-all-the-sound-bite/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) [Ebbe Skovdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebbe-skovdahl/) > [Unlike return, however, risk is no more quantifiable at the end of an investment that it was at its beginning. Risk simply cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/unlike-return-however-risk-is-no-more-quantifiable-at-the-end-of-an/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [Finding patterns is easy in any kind of data-rich environment; that's what mediocre gamblers do. The key is in determining whether the patterns represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/finding-patterns-is-easy-in-any-kind-of-data-rich-environment-that-s/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Web users ultimately want to get at data quickly and easily. They don't care as much about attractive sites and pretty design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/web-users-ultimately-want-to-get-at-data-quickly-and-easily-they-don/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [“The amount of stored information grows four times faster than the world economy, while the processing power of computers grows nine times faster. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/the-amount-of-stored-information-grows-four-times-faster-than-the/) [Viktor Mayer-Schönberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/) [Browse all 3,134 Data quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The modern world is drowning in information. We have more data than we can possibly use regarding nearly every picayune matter of society, economics, and politics. Science has contributed to this tsunami of facts and figures, but Riley's reports demonstrated that the tidal wave of minutiae is hardly unique to our time. In every age the challenge has been to move from information to knowledge. And the value of experts lies in their capacity to extract meaning from the reams of facts. Rather than being swamped by raw data, the connoisseur, craftsman, engineer, clinician, or scientist is selectively and self-consciously blind. Knowing what to ignore, recognizing what is extraneous, is the key to deriving pattern, form, and insight.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey A. Lockwood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-information-we-have-more-data-than-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Data" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-information-we-have-more-data-than-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/jeffrey-a-lockwood-87321_data_the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-informat_1202950.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The modern world is drowning in information. We have more data than we can possibly use regarding nearly…” — Jeffrey A. Lockwood", "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": "Jeffrey A. Lockwood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-lockwood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The modern world is drowning in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-information-we-have-more-data-than-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-lockwood/the-modern-world-is-drowning-in-information-we-have-more-data-than-we/#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 } } ] } ```