--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge is generally considered a good…" description: "\"Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.\" — P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg" --- # Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so… ![“Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg) > “Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.” [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that knowledge is inherently valuable and suggests that understanding U.S. global policies is beneficial. **In simple terms:** Knowledge is valuable; understanding U.S. actions is beneficial. Key Takeaway Understanding power structures matters. Themes knowledge politics global affairs ethics information Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - journalism - policy advising - civic education Key Concepts power dynamics policy analysis Practical Applications - informing public debate - guiding foreign policy decisions Questions to Reflect On - How does knowledge shape power? - When can knowledge be harmful? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [A good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/a-good-thing/) [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered/) [Considered Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-good-392538/) [Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-thinks-392537/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-generally-392535/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Presumably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumably/) [Presumably Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumably-knowing-392536/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-good-381638/) ## Related quotes > [The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the flag scene in Patton, was the stuff that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/the-stuff-that-i-got-in-trouble-for-the-casting-for-the-godfather-or/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Because I was big, I didn't have to listen to anyone doubting me. I was just considered good at football or whatever, there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/because-i-was-big-i-didn-t-have-to-listen-to-anyone-doubting-me-i-was/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [Thats not a place where I'm considered good-looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/thats-not-a-place-where-i-m-considered-good-looking/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [Society has low standards for what is considered good or great music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eyedea/society-has-low-standards-for-what-is-considered-good-or-great-music/) [Eyedea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eyedea/) > [All evils are to be considered with the good that is in them, and with what worse attends them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/all-evils-are-to-be-considered-with-the-good-that-is-in-them-and-with/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What I might have considered good, good doesn't mean every day is going to be perfect, you're not going to have bad breath, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/what-i-might-have-considered-good-good-doesn-t-mean-every-day-is/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [When you come from the working class and you do well enough whereby you can provide a little bit better for your family, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/when-you-come-from-the-working-class-and-you-do-well-enough-whereby/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [If you're not good looking, you're considered a good actor, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/if-you-re-not-good-looking-you-re-considered-a-good-actor-you-know/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [Being a secretary was considered a very good job in those days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/being-a-secretary-was-considered-a-very-good-job-in-those-days/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [“There is no such thing as a fixed and reliable truth (except for the statement that this is so, presumably”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-barry/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-fixed-and-reliable-truth-except-for-the/) [Peter Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-barry/) > [Now, I do think when we move into 2012 and '13 when, presumably, the economy is on firmer ground, I would allow the tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/now-i-do-think-when-we-move-into-2012-and-13-when-presumably-the/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-walker/eight-minutes-past-the-hour-here-in-belgium-and-presumably-eight/) [Murray Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-walker/) > [Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [Viruses have to live somewhere. They can only replicate in living creatures. So, when the Ebola virus disappears between outbreaks, it has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/viruses-have-to-live-somewhere-they-can-only-replicate-in-living/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) ## More by Peter Singer > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The price we are willing to pay for safety cannot be infinite. It is distasteful to put a price on human life, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-price-we-are-willing-to-pay-for-safety-cannot-be-infinite-it-is/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [ Nineteen thousand children \[are\] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-every-day-does-it-really-matter/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“The unchallenged assumption is that humans may use animals for their own purposes, and they may raise and kill them to satisfy their preference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-unchallenged-assumption-is-that-humans-may-use-animals-for-their/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Beginning to reason is like stepping onto an escalator that leads upward and out of sight. Once we take the first step, the distance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/beginning-to-reason-is-like-stepping-onto-an-escalator-that-leads/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Population growth is not a reason against giving aid but a reason for reconsidering the kind of aid to give.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/population-growth-is-not-a-reason-against-giving-aid-but-a-reason-for/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Well the real concept of basic needs if you cut it right down are simply the physical needs that are unavoidable for all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/well-the-real-concept-of-basic-needs-if-you-cut-it-right-down-are/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Dairy farmers routinely remove calves from their mothers at an early age so that the milk will be available for humans; anyone who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/dairy-farmers-routinely-remove-calves-from-their-mothers-at-an-early/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they 'educate' people about animals should not be taken seriously. Such enterprises are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/attempts-to-defend-amusement-parks-and-circuses-on-the-grounds-that/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“A consequence of this alienation of humans from their own nature is that they are also alienated from each other. Productive activity becomes ‘activity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/a-consequence-of-this-alienation-of-humans-from-their-own-nature-is/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“I argued against the view that the only obligation we have to strangers is to avoid harming them; but even if we were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-argued-against-the-view-that-the-only-obligation-we-have-to/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I believe that in this new world that we live in, we often have a responsibility, you know, to actually go beyond the thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-believe-that-in-this-new-world-that-we-live-in-we-often-have-a/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [It may be thought justifiable to require tests on animals of potentially life-saving drugs, but the same kinds of tests are used for products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/it-may-be-thought-justifiable-to-require-tests-on-animals-of/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Effective altruism is the form of altruism in which we bring our rational capacities to bear in order to do the most good that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/effective-altruism-is-the-form-of-altruism-in-which-we-bring-our/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) [Explore all 310 Peter Singer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## More A good thing quotes > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [Money is a good thing, but every morning you have to get up with something no one else in the world gets up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/money-is-a-good-thing-but-every-morning-you-have-to-get-up-with/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I was raised that emotion was a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-was-raised-that-emotion-was-a-good-thing/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [When I had a full-time job, I really wasn't that busy, but now I'm really busy. I guess that's a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-moneymaker/when-i-had-a-full-time-job-i-really-wasn-t-that-busy-but-now-i-m/) [Chris Moneymaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-moneymaker/) > [It's flattering that there are lots of Internet fan sites about me. I'm a bit of a technophobe and I don't even own a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-armstrong/it-s-flattering-that-there-are-lots-of-internet-fan-sites-about-me-i/) [Jonas Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-armstrong/) > [I am not opposed to e-readers. Any technology that encourages the reading of literature is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/i-am-not-opposed-to-e-readers-any-technology-that-encourages-the/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I think about death all the time. I think that's a good thing because we're all going to die, and the only thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gleason/i-think-about-death-all-the-time-i-think-that-s-a-good-thing-because/) [Steve Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gleason/) > [First, I was opposed to gay marriage because it seemed like one more way that gays were wanting to assimilate. When I realized the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/first-i-was-opposed-to-gay-marriage-because-it-seemed-like-one-more/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Just because we're rid of Saddam and the evil Batthists doesn't mean the occupation is a good thing. Our salvation from Saddam was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muqtada-al-sadr/just-because-we-re-rid-of-saddam-and-the-evil-batthists-doesn-t-mean/) [Muqtada al Sadr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muqtada-al-sadr/) > [I love Florida Georgia Line. I love 'Round Here.' So if a fan wants to listen to that, and if a fan that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-mccreery/i-love-florida-georgia-line-i-love-round-here-so-if-a-fan-wants-to/) [Scotty McCreery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-mccreery/) > [I keep threatening to write a non-fantasy book, and they keep offering me the kind of money I can't refuse to write a fantasy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-keep-threatening-to-write-a-non-fantasy-book-and-they-keep-offering/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [My mother raised three kids on her own, so I was taught that to be a working mom was a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/my-mother-raised-three-kids-on-her-own-so-i-was-taught-that-to-be-a/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I think it is a good thing to buy less and choose well - it's good for the environment and to be fair it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-think-it-is-a-good-thing-to-buy-less-and-choose-well-it-s-good-for/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [I think it's a good thing to have a lot of voices in the media, and I think, you know, let all flowers bloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cokie-roberts/i-think-it-s-a-good-thing-to-have-a-lot-of-voices-in-the-media-and-i/) [Cokie Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cokie-roberts/) > [I can be impatient. But I don't think it's always a bad habit. Sometimes a little impatience can be a good thing. It keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brant-daugherty/i-can-be-impatient-but-i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-bad-habit/) [Brant Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brant-daugherty/) [Browse all 195 A good thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/a-good-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Singer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "A good thing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/peter-singer-1001_a-good-thing_knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good_19469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and…” — Peter Singer", "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": "Peter Singer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knowledge is generally considered a good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/#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 } } ] } ```