--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never before in the history of the planet…" description: "\"Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg" --- # Never before in the history of the planet have so many… ![“Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about so many other people.” quote by Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg) > “Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about so many other people.” [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The digital age has empowered individuals with unprecedented access to vast amounts of data about diverse topics and other people. **In simple terms:** Massive personal information access Key Takeaway Tech democratizes knowledge Themes Information access Digital empowerment Individual agency Data abundance Social connectivity Mood Awe Curiosity Empowerment Type Observation Insight When to use this quote - Researching a topic - Networking online - Learning new skills - Monitoring trends - Checking background Key Concepts Internet Search engines Big data Privacy Practical Applications - Education - Marketing Questions to Reflect On - How does this access reshape personal responsibility? - What are the societal trade‑offs of ubiquitous data? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [People tend to view history as if it were another planet and think the modern world was invented in 1963. I don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/people-tend-to-view-history-as-if-it-were-another-planet-and-think/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [For four - fifths of our history, our planet was populated by pondscum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-schopf/for-four-fifths-of-our-history-our-planet-was-populated-by-pondscum/) J. William Schopf > [A planet full of people meant nothing against the dictates of economic necessity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac/a-planet-full-of-people-meant-nothing-against-the-dictates-of/) [Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac/) > [Health information is just about the number one thing that people go into public libraries and connect to public libraries for. They're also looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-hayden/health-information-is-just-about-the-number-one-thing-that-people-go/) [Carla Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-hayden/) > [I was interested in the questions that come up when the Internet gives you access not just to JSTOR libraries and to digital information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-goldberg/i-was-interested-in-the-questions-that-come-up-when-the-internet/) [Ken Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-goldberg/) > [“way. And there ain’t no OTHER way, that ever I heard of, and I’ve read all the books that gives any information about these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/way-and-there-ain-t-no-other-way-that-ever-i-heard-of-and-i-ve-read/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Maybe we have enough technology to save the planet but it is not enough because the people are not ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/maybe-we-have-enough-technology-to-save-the-planet-but-it-is-not/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“You and I, your mother, Ahlam, we are from up there,' my father continued. 'We come from the stunning stars. We were just born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-lillith-assadi/you-and-i-your-mother-ahlam-we-are-from-up-there-my-father-continued/) [Hannah Lillith Assadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-lillith-assadi/) > [“The problem you and I have, as Wrong Planet people, is not so much that we mean everything we say, but we expect that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/the-problem-you-and-i-have-as-wrong-planet-people-is-not-so-much-that/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“Listen, she said, "cherubim have come to my planet before." "I know that. Where do you think I got my information?" "What do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-l-engle/listen-she-said-cherubim-have-come-to-my-planet-before-i-know-that/) [Madeline L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-l-engle/) > [Ask ourselves: How can we serve, nurture and sustain the planet and its people in our business ventures?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horst-rechelbacher/ask-ourselves-how-can-we-serve-nurture-and-sustain-the-planet-and-its/) [Horst Rechelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horst-rechelbacher/) > [I'm not the most loved person on the planet. People assume they understand who I am by what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-bertolini/i-m-not-the-most-loved-person-on-the-planet-people-assume-they/) [Mark T Bertolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-bertolini/) > [To save the planet, the people must start thinking in terms of us, ours, we, instead of the capitalist I, mine, me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-save-the-planet-the-people-must-start-thinking-in-terms-of-us-ours/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Circling the earth in the orbital spaceship I marvelled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world!! Let us safeguard and enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-gagarin/circling-the-earth-in-the-orbital-spaceship-i-marvelled-at-the-beauty/) [Yuri Gagarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-gagarin/) > [All the nine-planet people out there: Get over it. There's eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/all-the-nine-planet-people-out-there-get-over-it-there-s-eight/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Thomas Friedman > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The financial crisis just made the hole deeper, which is why our stimulus needs to be both big and smart, both financially and educationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/the-financial-crisis-just-made-the-hole-deeper-which-is-why-our/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [When I was growing up, my parents told me, 'Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.' I tell my daughters, 'Finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/when-i-was-growing-up-my-parents-told-me-finish-your-dinner-people-in/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/hillary-clinton-has-decided-to-line-up-with-john-mccain-in-pushing-to/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Two things are going on at the same time with the flattening of the world: The relentless quest for efficiency is squeezing some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/two-things-are-going-on-at-the-same-time-with-the-flattening-of-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Our president's latest energy initiative was to go to Saudi Arabia and beg King Abdullah to give us a little relief on gasoline prices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/our-president-s-latest-energy-initiative-was-to-go-to-saudi-arabia/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I don't think the Arab Spring had much to do with energy. I think it was just the opposite, in fact. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-don-t-think-the-arab-spring-had-much-to-do-with-energy-i-think-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Until we fully understand what turned two brothers who allegedly perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings into murderers, it is hard to make any policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/until-we-fully-understand-what-turned-two-brothers-who-allegedly/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Geopolitics is all about leverage. We cannot make ourselves safer abroad unless we change our behavior at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/geopolitics-is-all-about-leverage-we-cannot-make-ourselves-safer/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [That's right-the striking thing about greenhouse gases is the diversity of sources that emit them. A herd of cattle belching can be worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/that-s-right-the-striking-thing-about-greenhouse-gases-is-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [There is something more severe than the problem with Thomas Friedman, which can be generalized to represent someone causing action while being completely unaccountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/there-is-something-more-severe-than-the-problem-with-thomas-friedman/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong but all the great changes have been accomplished by optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/pessimists-are-usually-right-and-optimists-are-usually-wrong-but-all/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Water is our next great environmental challenge. It is the new oil. How are we going to preserve this sport unless we are designing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/water-is-our-next-great-environmental-challenge-it-is-the-new-oil-how/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) [Explore all 208 Thomas Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about so many other people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Friedman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/thomas-friedman-1784_ability_never-before-in-the-history-of-the-plane_53921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much…” — Thomas Friedman", "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": "Thomas Friedman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never before in the history of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/#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 } } ] } ```