---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In any discussion of technology, you hear…"
description: "\"In any discussion of technology, you hear the same argument: You can't turn the clock back and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe not. B..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg"
---

#  In any discussion of technology, you hear the same…

![“In any discussion of technology, you hear the same argument: You can't turn the clock back and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe not. But there are steps we can take to limit the social harm caused by this industry, just like we do with others.” quote by Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg)

> “In any discussion of technology, you hear the same argument: You can't turn the clock back and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe not. But there are steps we can take to limit the social harm caused by this industry, just like we do with others.”

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Technology’s irreversible impact requires proactive measures to mitigate societal harms, similar to regulation in other sectors.

**In simple terms:** We can’t undo tech, but we can limit its negative effects.

Key Takeaway

Implement safeguards alongside innovation.

Themes

technology ethics policy social impact

Mood

concerned proactive

Type

policy ethical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- corporate governance
- public debate

Key Concepts

Regulation risk management public welfare

Questions to Reflect On

- What balance should be struck between progress and protection?
- Which harms need urgent attention?

A Different Perspective

Regulation may stifle innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Caused Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caused-industry-5992597/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harm Caused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-caused-1921011/) [Limit Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit-social-3776622/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Social Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-harm-2588283/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [“When you go home at night, let your home be the place where you disconnect from the world and the grind of your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cunningham/when-you-go-home-at-night-let-your-home-be-the-place-where-you/)

[Ted Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cunningham/)

> [“The problem with gross domestic product is the gross bit. There are no deductions involved: all economic activity is accounted as if it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-monbiot/the-problem-with-gross-domestic-product-is-the-gross-bit-there-are-no/)

[George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/)

> [“Colorblind theology (and culture) is dangerous, not just because of the obvious social harm, but because, at its core, it suggests that God made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrena-sawyer/colorblind-theology-and-culture-is-dangerous-not-just-because-of-the/)

[Andrena Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrena-sawyer/)

> [Here's to five miserable months on the wagon and the irreparable harm that it's caused me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/here-s-to-five-miserable-months-on-the-wagon-and-the-irreparable-harm/)

[Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/)

> [Just as a moral distinction is drawn between "those at risk" and "those posing a risk", health education routinely draws a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-lupton/just-as-a-moral-distinction-is-drawn-between-those-at-risk-and-those/)

[Deborah Lupton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-lupton/)

> [Like the assassinations of king Tarquins time, the harm caused by cyberbullying can include the death of young and old alike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/like-the-assassinations-of-king-tarquins-time-the-harm-caused-by/)

[Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/)

> [I think that there is far too much work done in the world, that immense harm is caused by the belief that work is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-that-there-is-far-too-much-work-done-in-the-world-that/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Apologize for any harm you may have caused others, it does not kill to ask for forgiveness so give it a go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/apologize-for-any-harm-you-may-have-caused-others-it-does-not-kill-to/)

[Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/)

> [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [I've never done anybody any harm in my entire life. No need to chase girls, I've thousands of them on Top Of The Pops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-savile/i-ve-never-done-anybody-any-harm-in-my-entire-life-no-need-to-chase/)

[Jimmy Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-savile/)

> [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/)

[Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/)

> [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

## More by Steve Hilton

> [Most of the time, I get around perfectly well on my bike and public transportation, even in spite of the Bay Area's almost comically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/most-of-the-time-i-get-around-perfectly-well-on-my-bike-and-public/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [We must not let the panicky Wall Street wheeler-dealers and the Trump-hating establishment state media talk us into a recession. We must keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/we-must-not-let-the-panicky-wall-street-wheeler-dealers-and-the-trump/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [After Trump, it will be a different Republican party... and for American workers, families, and communities, that is fantastic news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/after-trump-it-will-be-a-different-republican-party-and-for-american/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [There's an ideological belief on the left that you should not use nonpartisan tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/there-s-an-ideological-belief-on-the-left-that-you-should-not-use/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Straight out of college, I worked at the Conservative Party but that was just a couple of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/straight-out-of-college-i-worked-at-the-conservative-party-but-that/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Even when they are trying to deceive the voters, the Democrats are incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/even-when-they-are-trying-to-deceive-the-voters-the-democrats-are/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [You can do business with America or the authoritarian dictators of Beijing, who oppress their own people, put millions of Muslims in concentration camps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/you-can-do-business-with-america-or-the-authoritarian-dictators-of/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [I don't really care much about what the top one per cent earn. The gap we ought to care about in wealth is between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/i-don-t-really-care-much-about-what-the-top-one-per-cent-earn-the-gap/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [The idea that Donald Trump committed an abuse of power by bringing politics into a foreign relationship is a joke. They all do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/the-idea-that-donald-trump-committed-an-abuse-of-power-by-bringing/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [The most important thing about a candidate is not their promises - those hardly ever get delivered anyway. It's about how they would respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/the-most-important-thing-about-a-candidate-is-not-their-promises/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Membership of the E.U. makes Britain literally ungovernable, in the sense that no administration elected by the people can govern the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/membership-of-the-e-u-makes-britain-literally-ungovernable-in-the/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Our democracies are increasingly captured by a ruling class that seeks to perpetuate its privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/our-democracies-are-increasingly-captured-by-a-ruling-class-that/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Establishment idiots say the Trump tax cuts only helped the rich. Don't they understand anything about economics?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/establishment-idiots-say-the-trump-tax-cuts-only-helped-the-rich-don/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [The Democrats are up to their necks in foreign meddling. Nancy Pelosi took money from Ukraine lobbyists. Chuck Schumer took money from Saudi Arabia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/the-democrats-are-up-to-their-necks-in-foreign-meddling-nancy-pelosi/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Leaving the E.U. enables the U.K. to be more engaged with the global economy, not just the European economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/leaving-the-e-u-enables-the-u-k-to-be-more-engaged-with-the-global/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

[Explore all 100 Steve Hilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

## More Argument quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

> [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

> [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/)

[Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

[Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In any discussion of technology, you hear the same argument: You can't turn the clock back and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe not. But there are steps we can take to limit the social harm caused by this industry, just like we do with others.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steve Hilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear-the-same-argument-you-can-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear-the-same-argument-you-can-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/steve-hilton-5697_argument_in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear_3209918.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In any discussion of technology, you hear the same argument: You can't turn the clock back and you can't put…” — Steve Hilton",
                "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": "Steve Hilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In any discussion of technology, you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear-the-same-argument-you-can-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/in-any-discussion-of-technology-you-hear-the-same-argument-you-can-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
