--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that…" description: "\"“Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not necessary to conceal anything from a public insensible to contradiction and narcotized by technologi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/neil-postman-1598_brave-new-world_huxley-grasped-as-orwell-did-not-that-it_137419.jpg" --- # Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not… ![“Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not necessary to conceal anything from a public insensible to contradiction and narcotized by technological diversions. Although Huxley did not specify that television would be our main line to the drug, he would have no difficulty accepting Robert…” quote by Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/neil-postman-1598_brave-new-world_huxley-grasped-as-orwell-did-not-that-it_137419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/neil-postman-1598_brave-new-world_huxley-grasped-as-orwell-did-not-that-it_137419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/neil-postman-1598_brave-new-world_huxley-grasped-as-orwell-did-not-that-it_137419.jpg) > ““Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not necessary to conceal anything from a public insensible to contradiction and narcotized by technological diversions. Although Huxley did not specify that television would be our main line to the drug, he would have no difficulty accepting Robert MacNeil's observation that 'Television is the soma of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.' Big Brother turns out to be Howdy Doody.”” [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Media can numb critical thought, turning serious issues into entertainment, similar to how television acts as a societal drug. **In simple terms:** Media distracts us from truth, like a drug. Key Takeaway Seek media that challenges rather than comforts. Themes media criticism technology critical thinking Mood critical concerned Type media technology cultural critique When to use this quote - news consumption - educational programming - digital detox - media literacy Key Concepts information overload cultural sedation Questions to Reflect On - What media sources help you think critically? - How can we use technology without losing depth? A Different Perspective Not all media is harmful; some can empower. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave new world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-new-world/) [Epistemology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epistemology/) [Media literacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media-literacy/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [One of the most intensely unlikeable figures of the twentieth century, fanatical anti-Semite, enemy of labour unions and proud recipient of medals from Nazi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/one-of-the-most-intensely-unlikeable-figures-of-the-twentieth-century/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The early advocates of universal literacy and a free press…did not foresee…the development of a vast mass communications industry, concerned in the main neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/the-early-advocates-of-universal-literacy-and-a-free-press-did-not/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [“he contrasts two pivotal works of dystopian fiction: George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. In Orwell’s vision, he notes, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-gladstone/he-contrasts-two-pivotal-works-of-dystopian-fiction-george-orwell-s/) [Brooke Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-gladstone/) > [“Television is the soma of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-macneil/television-is-the-soma-of-aldous-huxley-s-brave-new-world/) [Robert MacNeil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-macneil/) > [“We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/we-were-keeping-our-eye-on-1984-when-the-year-came-and-the-prophecy/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“Technopoly eliminates alternatives to itself in precisely the way that Aldous Huxley outlined in Brave New World. It does not make them illegal. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/technopoly-eliminates-alternatives-to-itself-in-precisely-the-way-2/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“With the rise of Technopoly, one of those thought-worlds disappears. Technopoly eliminates alternatives to itself in precisely the way Aldous Huxley outlined in Brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/with-the-rise-of-technopoly-one-of-those-thought-worlds-disappears/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“It would be pleasant to believe that the age of pessimism is now coming to a close, and that its end is marked by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-gabor/it-would-be-pleasant-to-believe-that-the-age-of-pessimism-is-now/) [Dennis Gabor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-gabor/) > [ \[One of my kids \]is not named after Aldous Huxley. I haven't even read Brave New World! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/one-of-my-kids-is-not-named-after-aldous-huxley-i-haven-t-even-read/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [I think the fact that Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World and talked about anthrax bombs probably helped because at least we... people had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/i-think-the-fact-that-aldous-huxley-wrote-brave-new-world-and-talked/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [“In other words, I feel that the nightmare of Nineteen Eighty-Four is destined to modulate into the nightmare of a world having more resemblance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-other-words-i-feel-that-the-nightmare-of-nineteen-eighty-four-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I know these are going to sound like school reading-list suggestions, but if you like dystopian fiction, you should check out some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-know-these-are-going-to-sound-like-school-reading-list-suggestions/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [“Technopoly eliminates alternatives to itself in precisely the way Aldous Huxley outlined in Brave New World,” he argued in his 1993 book on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/technopoly-eliminates-alternatives-to-itself-in-precisely-the-way/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Those who neglect the roots of order, one may add, are compelled to water those roots desperately—after wandering in the parched wasteland of disorder.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/those-who-neglect-the-roots-of-order-one-may-add-are-compelled-to/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [“There is only one historical development that has real significance. Today, when we finally realise that the keys to happiness are in the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/there-is-only-one-historical-development-that-has-real-significance/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## More by Neil Postman > [“to whom will the technology give greater power and freedom? And whose power and freedom will be reduced by it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/to-whom-will-the-technology-give-greater-power-and-freedom-and-whose/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [Cyberspace' is a metaphorical idea which is supposed to be the space where your consciousness is located when you're using computer technology on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/cyberspace-is-a-metaphorical-idea-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-space/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [Textbooks, it seems to me, are enemies of education, instruments for promoting dogmatism and trivial learning. 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It is about the character of the consumers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/the-television-commercial-is-not-at-all-about-the-character-of/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“Many decisions about the form and content of news programs are made on the basis of information about the viewer, the purpose of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/many-decisions-about-the-form-and-content-of-news-programs-are-made/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“the world we live in is very nearly incomprehensible to most of us. There is almost no fact, whether actual or imagined, that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/the-world-we-live-in-is-very-nearly-incomprehensible-to-most-of-us/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“Tüketici psikodramalarla yatıştırılan bir hastadır.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/t-ketici-psikodramalarla-yat-t-r-lan-bir-hastad-r/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“The written word is assumed to have been reflected upon and revised by its author,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/the-written-word-is-assumed-to-have-been-reflected-upon-and-revised/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [We do not measure a culture by its output of undisguised trivialities but by what it claims as significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/we-do-not-measure-a-culture-by-its-output-of-undisguised-trivialities/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“In America, the least amusing people are its professional entertainers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/in-america-the-least-amusing-people-are-its-professional-entertainers/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/we-were-keeping-our-eye-on-1984-when-the-year-came-and-the-prophecy/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“The question is not, Does or doesn't public schooling create a public? The question is, What kind of public does it create? A conglomerate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/the-question-is-not-does-or-doesn-t-public-schooling-create-a-public/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“But in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/but-in-huxley-s-vision-no-big-brother-is-required-to-deprive-people/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) [Explore all 220 Neil Postman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) ## More Brave new world quotes > [“We develop ulcers, high blood pressure, headaches, and other physical problems in part because our stress systems aren’t designed to handle the “dangers” of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/we-develop-ulcers-high-blood-pressure-headaches-and-other-physical/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [“In other words, I feel that the nightmare of Nineteen Eighty-Four is destined to modulate into the nightmare of a world having more resemblance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-other-words-i-feel-that-the-nightmare-of-nineteen-eighty-four-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“remote work has opened the door to a new era of freedom and luxury. 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In his mind the singing words seemed to change their tune. They had mocked him through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/o-brave-new-world-o-brave-new-world-in-his-mind-the-singing-words/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/we-were-keeping-our-eye-on-1984-when-the-year-came-and-the-prophecy/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man- There are only four things certain since Social Progress began:-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/as-it-will-be-in-the-future-it-was-at-the-birth-of-man-there-are-only/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Ford's in his flivver; all's well with the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/ford-s-in-his-flivver-all-s-well-with-the-world/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Welcome to the brave new world of American multiculturalism. 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O brave new world, That has such people in't!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-wonder-how-many-goodly-creatures-are-there-here-how-beauteous/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Orwell's '1984' convinced me, rightly or wrongly, that Marxism was only a quantum leap away from tyranny. By contrast, Huxley's 'Brave New World' suggested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/orwell-s-1984-convinced-me-rightly-or-wrongly-that-marxism-was-only-a/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) [Browse all 125 Brave new world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-new-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not necessary to conceal anything from a public insensible to contradiction and narcotized by technological diversions. 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