19th century Quote by Noam Chomsky
“The big change, the really radical change in communication, was in the late 19th century. The shift from sailing ships to telegraph is astronomical. Everything since then has been small increments, including the internet. So you don't have to wait for a letter to get to England in six weeks, you have almost instant communication. That was an enormous shift.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture or interview, date unknown
The 19th‑century shift from sailing ships to telegraph revolutionized communication, making later advances incremental compared to that breakthrough.
In simple terms: Telegraph changed communication dramatically; later changes are smaller.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the impact of foundational tech shifts.
Themes
technology
history
communication
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
observational
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- business
- media
- policy making
Key Concepts
innovation diffusion
technological paradigm shift
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern tech could be a comparable breakthrough?
- How do incremental changes shape society?
A Different Perspective
Later innovations may be overstated.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
![“. . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured [England] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that if they were destroyed . . . old jobs and old ways of life could be preserved . . . At certain times in his life each man is tempted to become a…” quote by James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/182/james-a-michener-1627_19th-century_luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditional_76909.jpg)
