--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are more ideas on earth than…" description: "\"There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than \"politicians\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/michel-foucault-1134_active_there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intel_500829.jpg" --- # There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine… ![“There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than "politicians" think. We have to be there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their force: not in books expressing them, but in events manifesting…” quote by Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/michel-foucault-1134_active_there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intel_500829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/michel-foucault-1134_active_there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intel_500829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/michel-foucault-1134_active_there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intel_500829.jpg) > “There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than "politicians" think. We have to be there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their force: not in books expressing them, but in events manifesting this force, in struggles carried on around ideas, for or against them. Ideas do not rule the world. But it is because the world has ideas (and because it constantly produces them) that it is not passively ruled by those who are its leaders or those who would like to teach it, once and for all, what it must think.” [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas constantly emerge and shape society beyond the control of any single authority, demanding active engagement at their inception. **In simple terms:** Ideas are powerful and constantly emerging, needing active involvement. Key Takeaway Engage early with new ideas. Themes ideas power society engagement authority Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political activism - academic research - community organizing - media analysis Key Concepts social theory philosophy cultural dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure diverse ideas are heard? - What role do institutions play in shaping ideas? A Different Perspective Ideas can be co-opted or suppressed by dominant narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Elitism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elitism/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectualism/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Populism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/populism/) [Rule the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-the-world/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than politicians think. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intellectuals-imagine-and-these/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [We have to be there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their force: not in books expressing them, but in events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/we-have-to-be-there-at-the-birth-of-ideas-the-bursting-outward-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“Discourse and critical thinking are essential tools when it comes to securing progress in a democratic society. But in the end, unity and engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/discourse-and-critical-thinking-are-essential-tools-when-it-comes-to/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Women will always put persons above ideas ... and so they'll always be defeated. Persons die, and ideas rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/women-will-always-put-persons-above-ideas-and-so-they-ll-always-be/) [Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/) > [Out of life's storm I carried only a few ideas - and not one feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/out-of-life-s-storm-i-carried-only-a-few-ideas-and-not-one-feeling/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [“You cannot change the world with ideas. People with few ideas are less likely to make mistakes; they follow what everyone else does and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/you-cannot-change-the-world-with-ideas-people-with-few-ideas-are-less/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [See the world in ideas, it helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/django-steenbrink/see-the-world-in-ideas-it-helps/) [Django Steenbrink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/django-steenbrink/) > [Directing doesn't appeal to me. I'm much more in the world of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/directing-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-i-m-much-more-in-the-world-of-ideas/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [“What rules the world is ideas,” Kristol once wrote, “because ideas define the way reality is perceived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-rules-the-world-is-ideas-kristol-once-wrote-because-ideas-define/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once the world of ideas has been transformed, reality cannot hold out for long. 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We create a world of ideas. 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