Misinformation Quote by Samuel R. Delany
““...in a universe where both information and misinformation are constantly suspect, reviewed and drifing as they must be (constantly) by and between the two, a moment when either information or misinformation turns out to be harmless must bloom, when surrounded by the workings of desire and terror, into the offered sign of all about it, making and marking all about it innocent by contamination.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Information and Misinformation, 2020
When falsehoods become harmless, they reveal how desire and terror shape meaning, turning contamination into innocence.
In simple terms: Harmless lies expose hidden motives.
Key Takeaway
Question the purity of information.
Themes
truth
misinformation
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- Journalism
- social media
- academic research
- public policy
Key Concepts
Philosophy of knowledge
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern harmless from harmful falsehoods?
- What role does desire play in belief formation?
A Different Perspective
Harmless misinformation can still cause subtle harm.
