--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While information is the oxygen of the…" description: "\"“While information is the oxygen of the modern age, disinformation is the carbon monoxide that can poison generations.”\" — Newton Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg" --- # While information is the oxygen of the modern age… ![“While information is the oxygen of the modern age, disinformation is the carbon monoxide that can poison generations.” quote by Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg) > ““While information is the oxygen of the modern age, disinformation is the carbon monoxide that can poison generations.”” [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Information fuels progress; falsehoods spread quickly and can damage societies across generations. **In simple terms:** True info helps; false info harms. Key Takeaway Verify sources before sharing. Themes media literacy truth societal health Mood concerned alert critical Type cautionary educational When to use this quote - journalism - social media - education - policy making Key Concepts information theory propaganda cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How do you check a source’s credibility? - What impact does false info have on public trust? A Different Perspective Misinformation can be hard to detect and may be amplified by algorithms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age Disinformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-disinformation-5957454/) [Disinformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disinformation/) [Disinformation Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disinformation-carbon-5957453/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Information Oxygen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-oxygen-546985/) [Monoxide Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monoxide-poison-5957455/) ## Related quotes > [Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-it-seeps-through-the-2/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-it-seeps-through-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Information is the oxygen of the modern age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Information is power. Disinformation is abuse of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/information-is-power-disinformation-is-abuse-of-power/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“What is the flow and impact of disinformation? How is the disinformation spreading and what are its effects?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/what-is-the-flow-and-impact-of-disinformation-how-is-the/) [Roger spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [Be careful who you choose as your hero or who you choose to deify, be it Clay Aiken or Barack Obama. You put all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/be-careful-who-you-choose-as-your-hero-or-who-you-choose-to-deify-be/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“Both incest and the Holocaust have been subject to furious denial by perpetrators and other individuals and by highly organised groups such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-walker/both-incest-and-the-holocaust-have-been-subject-to-furious-denial-by/) [Janet Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-walker/) > [Disinformation has always existed. It's not like all of a sudden we've just discovered this new thing called propaganda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wylie/disinformation-has-always-existed-it-s-not-like-all-of-a-sudden-we-ve/) [Christopher Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wylie/) > [“The concept of fourth-generation wars simply refers to the use of disinformation, funding subversive N.G.O.s, and spreading rumours as a method for warfare, broadening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maged-mandour/the-concept-of-fourth-generation-wars-simply-refers-to-the-use-of/) [Maged Mandour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maged-mandour/) > [Esso has been the main one in America spreading the disinformation that there is no global warming problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/esso-has-been-the-main-one-in-america-spreading-the-disinformation/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“Just as in the Trump-Giuliani Ukraine conspiracy, we saw a ruthless, single-minded obsession with staying in power; a manifest lack of moral values, shame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-yovanovitch/just-as-in-the-trump-giuliani-ukraine-conspiracy-we-saw-a-ruthless/) [Marie Yovanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-yovanovitch/) > [“Although the Russians had sown disinformation through fake news in the Ukrainian election in 2014 and hacked into the election system to manipulate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/although-the-russians-had-sown-disinformation-through-fake-news-in/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [The oil companies regard nuclear power as their rival, who will reduce their profits, so they put out a lot of disinformation about nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/the-oil-companies-regard-nuclear-power-as-their-rival-who-will-reduce/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“There have been extensive human rights violations by American psychiatrists over the last 70 years. These doctors were pad by the American taxpayer through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/there-have-been-extensive-human-rights-violations-by-american/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [Public discourse has been polluted now for decades by corporate-funded disinformation - not just with climate change but with a host of health, environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-mann/public-discourse-has-been-polluted-now-for-decades-by-corporate/) [Michael E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-mann/) ## More by Newton Lee > [While games are fun to play, children should grow up not just being the consumers of technology but also the creators of technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/while-games-are-fun-to-play-children-should-grow-up-not-just-being/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“The U.S. government needs to learn from successful private businesses that run an effective and efficient operation in serving their customers and outwitting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/the-u-s-government-needs-to-learn-from-successful-private-businesses/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, "to be, or not to be, that is the question." In the 21st century, "to code, or not to code,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/in-william-shakespeare-s-hamlet-to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“One of the functions of entertainment, I think, is education. - Roy E. Disney”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/one-of-the-functions-of-entertainment-i-think-is-education-roy-e/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“Dictatorship of the majority over the minority would be an encroachment on the rights of the individual and their prerogative to personal freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/dictatorship-of-the-majority-over-the-minority-would-be-an/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“I keep wondering why the Academy decided that they needed a separate category for animated films just at a moment when there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/i-keep-wondering-why-the-academy-decided-that-they-needed-a-separate/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/there-is-a-fine-line-between-free-speech-and-hate-speech-free-speech/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [As the world is increasingly interconnected, everyone shares the responsibility of securing cyberspace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/as-the-world-is-increasingly-interconnected-everyone-shares-the/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [War is legitimized state-sponsored terrorism in a grand scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/war-is-legitimized-state-sponsored-terrorism-in-a-grand-scale/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“An open internet is an open platform for debating opposing views. It allows unpopular voices to be heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/an-open-internet-is-an-open-platform-for-debating-opposing-views-it/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [Journalists should be watchdogs, not lapdogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/journalists-should-be-watchdogs-not-lapdogs/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [The two-way street of Total Information Awareness is the road that leads to a more transparent and complete picture of ourselves, our governments, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/the-two-way-street-of-total-information-awareness-is-the-road-that/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“Every lifelong couple has their own variants of the butterfly dream!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/every-lifelong-couple-has-their-own-variants-of-the-butterfly-dream/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [Every major technological innovation propels humanity forward to the point of no return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/every-major-technological-innovation-propels-humanity-forward-to-the/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [“Change was a constant in Walt Disney’s commitment to tell a story well, to bring it to an audience through the technology of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/change-was-a-constant-in-walt-disney-s-commitment-to-tell-a-story/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) [Explore all 20 Newton Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) ## More Disinformation quotes > [Public discourse has been polluted now for decades by corporate-funded disinformation - not just with climate change but with a host of health, environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-mann/public-discourse-has-been-polluted-now-for-decades-by-corporate/) [Michael E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-mann/) > [“There have been extensive human rights violations by American psychiatrists over the last 70 years. These doctors were pad by the American taxpayer through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/there-have-been-extensive-human-rights-violations-by-american/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [The oil companies regard nuclear power as their rival, who will reduce their profits, so they put out a lot of disinformation about nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/the-oil-companies-regard-nuclear-power-as-their-rival-who-will-reduce/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“What is the flow and impact of disinformation? How is the disinformation spreading and what are its effects?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/what-is-the-flow-and-impact-of-disinformation-how-is-the/) [Roger spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [“Although the Russians had sown disinformation through fake news in the Ukrainian election in 2014 and hacked into the election system to manipulate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/although-the-russians-had-sown-disinformation-through-fake-news-in/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“Just as in the Trump-Giuliani Ukraine conspiracy, we saw a ruthless, single-minded obsession with staying in power; a manifest lack of moral values, shame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-yovanovitch/just-as-in-the-trump-giuliani-ukraine-conspiracy-we-saw-a-ruthless/) [Marie Yovanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-yovanovitch/) > [Esso has been the main one in America spreading the disinformation that there is no global warming problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/esso-has-been-the-main-one-in-america-spreading-the-disinformation/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“The concept of fourth-generation wars simply refers to the use of disinformation, funding subversive N.G.O.s, and spreading rumours as a method for warfare, broadening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maged-mandour/the-concept-of-fourth-generation-wars-simply-refers-to-the-use-of/) [Maged Mandour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maged-mandour/) > [Disinformation has always existed. It's not like all of a sudden we've just discovered this new thing called propaganda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wylie/disinformation-has-always-existed-it-s-not-like-all-of-a-sudden-we-ve/) [Christopher Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wylie/) > [“Both incest and the Holocaust have been subject to furious denial by perpetrators and other individuals and by highly organised groups such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-walker/both-incest-and-the-holocaust-have-been-subject-to-furious-denial-by/) [Janet Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-walker/) > [Be careful who you choose as your hero or who you choose to deify, be it Clay Aiken or Barack Obama. You put all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/be-careful-who-you-choose-as-your-hero-or-who-you-choose-to-deify-be/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Information technology alone cannot provide us an absolute shield against its evil twin disinformation technology. Our only protection is law, and that protection is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-starr/information-technology-alone-cannot-provide-us-an-absolute-shield/) [Paul Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-starr/) > [“In “What Happened,” Clinton, by way of demanding national resolve against a Russian threat, quotes a maxim attributed to Vladimir Lenin: “You take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/in-what-happened-clinton-by-way-of-demanding-national-resolve-against/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [“They follow the Hitler line - no matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/they-follow-the-hitler-line-no-matter-how-big-the-lie-repeat-it-often/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“When disinformation is running rampant, there are two ignorances that may emerge: the one is actually positive, a sort of pure and intentional emptying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/when-disinformation-is-running-rampant-there-are-two-ignorances-that/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) [Browse all 97 Disinformation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disinformation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“While information is the oxygen of the modern age, disinformation is the carbon monoxide that can poison generations.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Newton Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-disinformation-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disinformation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-disinformation-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/newton-lee-27512_disinformation_while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-m_2391217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While information is the oxygen of the modern age, disinformation is the carbon monoxide that can poison…” — Newton Lee", "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": "Newton Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“While information is the oxygen of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-disinformation-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/while-information-is-the-oxygen-of-the-modern-age-disinformation-is/#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 } } ] } ```