Communication Quote by Neil Postman
““In saying no one knew about the ideas implicit in the telegraph, I am not quite accurate. Thoreau knew. Or so one may surmise. It is alleged that upon being told that through the telegraph a man in Maine could instantly send a message to a man in Texas, Thoreau asked, "But what do they have to say to each other?" In asking this question, to which no serious interest was paid, Thoreau was directing attention to the psychological and social meaning of the telegraph, and in particular to its capacity to change the character of information -- from the personal and regional to the impersonal and global.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, 1985
Thoreau highlighted that the telegraph shifts information from personal, local context to impersonal, global exchange, altering social relationships.
In simple terms: Telegraph makes communication impersonal and global.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how technology reshapes personal connections.
Themes
communication
technology
society
globalization
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business meetings
- family chats
- news distribution
- online forums
Key Concepts
media theory
information flow
social impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern digital media echo Thoreau’s concern?
- What personal aspects are lost in global communication?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate Thoreau’s exact words; historical verification is unclear.
![“It was a pleasure and a privilege to walk with him [H.D. Thoreau]. He knew the country like a fox or a bird, and passed through it as freely by paths of his own.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_bird_it-was-a-pleasure-and-a-privilege-to-wal_2186632.jpg)
![“A book is an attempt to make through permanent and to contribute to the great conversation conducted by authors of the past. […] The telegraph is suited only to the flashing of messages, each to be quickly replaced by a more up-to-date message. Facts push other facts into and then out of…” quote by Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/395/neil-postman-1598_book_a-book-is-an-attempt-to-make-through-per_3096657.jpg)
