--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We give you the facts. I told you…" description: "\"We give you the facts. I told you information is power - knowledge is power. We can't be in an ideological battle to redeem the soul of this country if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/tavis-smiley-7372_battle_we-give-you-the-facts-i-told-you-informa_1319722.jpg" --- # We give you the facts. I told you information is power… ![“We give you the facts. I told you information is power - knowledge is power. We can't be in an ideological battle to redeem the soul of this country if we don't have the facts.” quote by Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/tavis-smiley-7372_battle_we-give-you-the-facts-i-told-you-informa_1319722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/tavis-smiley-7372_battle_we-give-you-the-facts-i-told-you-informa_1319722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/tavis-smiley-7372_battle_we-give-you-the-facts-i-told-you-informa_1319722.jpg) > “We give you the facts. I told you information is power - knowledge is power. We can't be in an ideological battle to redeem the soul of this country if we don't have the facts.” [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facts empower people; without accurate information, ideological conflicts cannot be resolved. **In simple terms:** Knowledge is power; facts are essential. Key Takeaway Seek reliable information before debating. Themes information truth politics empowerment Mood critical inquisitive Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - news consumption - public discourse - policy analysis Key Concepts media literacy critical thinking civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the facts you encounter? - What role does knowledge play in civic responsibility? A Different Perspective Fact‑checking can be difficult in fast‑moving media. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Information is power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-is-power/) [Knowledge is power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-is-power/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/knowledge-is-power-information-is-power-the-secreting-or-hoarding-of/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [Information is power. Disinformation is abuse of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/information-is-power-disinformation-is-abuse-of-power/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [Information is power only if you can take action with it. Then, and only then, does it represent knowledge and, consequently, power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burrus/information-is-power-only-if-you-can-take-action-with-it-then-and/) [Daniel Burrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burrus/) > [Information is power. --Humfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/information-is-power-humfrey/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Information is power. If you have information about the whole planet you have power over the whole planet. By knowing what people do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-appelbaum/information-is-power-if-you-have-information-about-the-whole-planet/) [Jacob Appelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-appelbaum/) > [Let me go back to a fundamental thing we all used to agree on: information is power. That's why we became journalists in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/let-me-go-back-to-a-fundamental-thing-we-all-used-to-agree-on/) [Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/) > [For years, we've been bludgeoned with the cliche "information is power." But information isn't power. After all, who's got the most information in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-stoll/for-years-we-ve-been-bludgeoned-with-the-cliche-information-is-power/) [Clifford Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-stoll/) > [If information is power, why are the powerful so ill informed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-curley/if-information-is-power-why-are-the-powerful-so-ill-informed/) Arthur Curley > [I am of mixed minds about the issue of privacy. On one hand, I understand that information is power, and power is, well, power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-am-of-mixed-minds-about-the-issue-of-privacy-on-one-hand-i/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [“Information is power. You can never know ahead of time which pieces will be worth the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/information-is-power-you-can-never-know-ahead-of-time-which-pieces/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [We have an opportunity for everyone in the world to have access to all the world's information. This has never before been possible. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/we-have-an-opportunity-for-everyone-in-the-world-to-have-access-to/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [Information is power. Particularly when the competition ignores the opportunity to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/information-is-power-particularly-when-the-competition-ignores-the/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [“Information is power. Information empowers. Information is powerless if not applied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/information-is-power-information-empowers-information-is-powerless-if/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [Information is Power. Think For Yourself. CAUTION: proper use of the brain is not endorsed by federal governments nor huge corporations involved in serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/information-is-power-think-for-yourself-caution-proper-use-of-the/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Information is power, and the gain you get from empowering your associates more than offsets the risk of informing your competitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/information-is-power-and-the-gain-you-get-from-empowering-your/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) ## More by Tavis Smiley > [I think the issue of women's choice is essential for a woman being able to have their lives - if they cannot control their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-the-issue-of-women-s-choice-is-essential-for-a-woman-being/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Leonard Pitts, Jr. is the most insightful and inspiring columnist of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/leonard-pitts-jr-is-the-most-insightful-and-inspiring-columnist-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I believe there is nothing we endure in life that you can't recover from. Failure is not fatal. Everyone has the capacity to fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-believe-there-is-nothing-we-endure-in-life-that-you-can-t-recover/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Why don't we scale up those things that do work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/why-don-t-we-scale-up-those-things-that-do-work/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I think when I stop fighting, I die in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-when-i-stop-fighting-i-die-in-a-sense/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-storm-came-lives-were-washed-away-ancient-pains-resurfaced-now-it/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [ \[John Carlos\] has spent much of his life since that time as a dedicated human rights advocate and public speaker, and he is out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-has-spent-much-of-his-life-since-that-time-as-a-dedicated/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I love the fight. I don't - it's not a negative, it's a positive, and I love the challenge. There's that little part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-love-the-fight-i-don-t-it-s-not-a-negative-it-s-a-positive-and-i/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [This administration and these folk who run Washington are no more interested in our welfare and our well being than the man on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/this-administration-and-these-folk-who-run-washington-are-no-more/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I'm talking about France and Germany and Italy and Spain - new friend Germany - and I love that story, how they lead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-m-talking-about-france-and-germany-and-italy-and-spain-new-friend/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Sometimes even your friends don't understand your calling, your purpose, your vocation. But you have to stand in your truth anyway, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/sometimes-even-your-friends-don-t-understand-your-calling-your/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Fear, fear, breeds hopelessness. When you're afraid, you don't know what to believe in, you don't know what to hold on to. You're struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/fear-fear-breeds-hopelessness-when-you-re-afraid-you-don-t-know-what/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/capitalism-is-like-a-child-if-you-want-the-child-to-grow-up-free-and/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The data is going to indicate sadly that when the Obama administration is over, black people will have lost ground in every single leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-data-is-going-to-indicate-sadly-that-when-the-obama/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [John Carlos provided the world with one of the most iconic images of the 1960s with his Black Power salute after a medal-winning performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-provided-the-world-with-one-of-the-most-iconic-images-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) [Explore all 91 Tavis Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We give you the facts. I told you information is power - knowledge is power. 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