---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were still too many people who were…"
description: "\"“There were still too many people who were afraid of a technology that eluded them, still more who would never have access and resented and feared it i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/melissa-scott-59208_demagogue_there-were-still-too-many-people-who-wer_3183363.jpg"
---

#  There were still too many people who were afraid of a…

![“There were still too many people who were afraid of a technology that eluded them, still more who would never have access and resented and feared it in equal measures. Mobilize those groups just once, find a demagogue-and there always were demagogues-and the nets would find themselves destroyed.” quote by Melissa Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/melissa-scott-59208_demagogue_there-were-still-too-many-people-who-wer_3183363.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/melissa-scott-59208_demagogue_there-were-still-too-many-people-who-wer_3183363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4de/melissa-scott-59208_demagogue_there-were-still-too-many-people-who-wer_3183363.jpg)

> ““There were still too many people who were afraid of a technology that eluded them, still more who would never have access and resented and feared it in equal measures. Mobilize those groups just once, find a demagogue-and there always were demagogues-and the nets would find themselves destroyed.””

[Melissa Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-scott/)

## About This Quote

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

People fear unfamiliar technology, especially when access is unequal, and demagogues exploit that fear, leading to societal division.

**In simple terms:** Fear of tech and inequality cause division.

Key Takeaway

Address inequality and counter demagoguery.

Themes

technology inequality fear politics social cohesion

Mood

concerned critical

Type

social commentary political

When to use this quote

- policy making
- community outreach
- education campaigns

Key Concepts

access disparity demagoguery media influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How can inclusive design reduce fear?
- What role should regulation play?

A Different Perspective

Demagoguery can also empower grassroots movements.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Demagogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demagogue/) [Demagogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demagogues/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

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> [We have passed the age of the demagogue, the man who has little to say and says it loud. We have come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/we-have-passed-the-age-of-the-demagogue-the-man-who-has-little-to-say/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [“There is only a one thing worse than an idiot: An idiot with a following.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narcissismus-decimus-maximus/there-is-only-a-one-thing-worse-than-an-idiot-an-idiot-with-a/)

[Narcissismus Decimus Maximus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narcissismus-decimus-maximus/)

> [ \[Y\]ou possess all the attributes of a demagogue; a screeching, horrible voice, a perverse, crossgrained nature and the language of the market-place. In you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/y-ou-possess-all-the-attributes-of-a-demagogue-a-screeching-horrible/)

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> [Donald Trump is a demagogue. Period. The fervor of his crowds recalls Nasser's Egypt. His convictions are illiberal. His manners are disgusting. His temper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/donald-trump-is-a-demagogue-period-the-fervor-of-his-crowds-recalls/)

[Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/)

> [Let's destroy this young demagogue before he becomes another Ralph Nader. (about John Kerry)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon-2/let-s-destroy-this-young-demagogue-before-he-becomes-another-ralph/)

[Richard M Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon-2/)

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[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [The art of politics, under democracy, is simply the art of ringing it. Two branches reveal themselves. There is the art of the demagogue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-art-of-politics-under-democracy-is-simply-the-art-of-ringing-it/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [The demagogue is usually sly,a detractor of others, a professor of humility and disinterestedness, a great stickler for equality as respects all above him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-demagogue-is-usually-sly-a-detractor-of-others-a-professor-of/)

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> [Do the day's work. If it be to protect the rights of the weak, whoever objects, do it. If it be to help a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/do-the-day-s-work-if-it-be-to-protect-the-rights-of-the-weak-whoever/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [But in his Farewell Address, George Washington made it clear that he perceived no greater threat to the American experiment than a partisan demagogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/but-in-his-farewell-address-george-washington-made-it-clear-that-he/)

[John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/)

> [The secret of the demagogue is to make himself as stupid as his audience so they believe they are clever as he.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/the-secret-of-the-demagogue-is-to-make-himself-as-stupid-as-his/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Everyone wants to demagogue everyone else. That may be good politics, but it's awful policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/everyone-wants-to-demagogue-everyone-else-that-may-be-good-politics/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

## More by Melissa Scott

> [“Technology has its place…We respect and honor the past, but we know we can't completely re-create it, nor do we want to do so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-scott/technology-has-its-place-we-respect-and-honor-the-past-but-we-know-we/)

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[Melissa Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-scott/)

> [“You know damn well that's not how the wire works, and if you weren't afraid of it, you'd have one yourself. It's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-scott/you-know-damn-well-that-s-not-how-the-wire-works-and-if-you-weren-t/)

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[Melissa Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-scott/)

[Explore all 5 Melissa Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-scott/)

## More Demagogue quotes

> [. . . behind each breakaway movement is a breakaway demagogue who will set up his breakaway demagogue government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/behind-each-breakaway-movement-is-a-breakaway-demagogue-who-will-set/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

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> [ \[Y\]ou possess all the attributes of a demagogue; a screeching, horrible voice, a perverse, crossgrained nature and the language of the market-place. In you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/y-ou-possess-all-the-attributes-of-a-demagogue-a-screeching-horrible/)

[Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/)

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[Narcissismus Decimus Maximus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narcissismus-decimus-maximus/)

> [We have passed the age of the demagogue, the man who has little to say and says it loud. We have come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/we-have-passed-the-age-of-the-demagogue-the-man-who-has-little-to-say/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [“The secret of the demagogue is to appear as dumb as his audience so that these people can believe themselves as smart as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-zohn/the-secret-of-the-demagogue-is-to-appear-as-dumb-as-his-audience-so/)

Harry Zohn

> [Everyone wants to demagogue everyone else. That may be good politics, but it's awful policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/everyone-wants-to-demagogue-everyone-else-that-may-be-good-politics/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

> [“Don't you know yet, he said, that an idle and selfish class loves to see mischief being made, even if it is made at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/don-t-you-know-yet-he-said-that-an-idle-and-selfish-class-loves-to/)

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[Browse all 27 Demagogue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demagogue/)

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