Books Quote by Rob Brezsny
““It is noted that from 1967 to 1995 essays on negative emotions far outnumbered those on positive emotions in the psychological literature. The ratio was 21:1. Even those supreme perpetrators of pop nihilism, The New York Times and The Washington Post, have a better ratio than psychological literature. They average 12 negative stories to every one that might be construed to be non-negative. Many of their non-negative stories, however, cover success in sports and entertainment. I demand that the purveyors of despair who pretend to be dispassionate observes of the human condition go ahead and disclose that the 10 most beautiful words in the English languages are chimes, dawn, golden, hush, lullaby, luminous, melody, mist, murmuring, and tranquil; that Java sparrows prefer the music of Back over that of Schoenberg; that math experts have determined there are 1/96 trillion ways to lace up your shoes; that the Inuit term for making love is translated as ‘laughing together in bed;' and that according to Buckminster Fuller, “pollution is nothing but resources we’re not harvesting.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Dark Side of Media, 2023
The quote critiques the media’s focus on negativity, contrasting it with rare positive stories, and highlights overlooked beauty and wonder in language, nature, and ideas.
In simple terms: Media overemphasizes negativity, ignoring many beautiful things.
Seek and share positive, beautiful aspects of life.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- news reporting
- personal journaling
- teaching
- creative writing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance news coverage?
- What small wonders can we celebrate daily?
Positive stories are often underreported, limiting public morale.