Ability Quote by William Raspberry
“Our growing ability to eliminate the slow-moving aspects of entertainment and go hopping from one peak to another is not without cost. Stand-up comics, movie-makers and others who earn their living entertaining no longer "waste" time with setups and plot development, lest we reach for the remote and click them off our screen. The result is a loss of subtlety, anticipation and nuance and, in the process, a coarsening of our discourse.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Cost of Instant Gratification, 2015
Fast‑paced media cuts out slow storytelling, eroding subtlety and depth in entertainment and public conversation.
In simple terms: Quick content removes nuance.
Key Takeaway
Value patience and depth.
Themes
media
culture
communication
art
attention
depth
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- film criticism
- stand‑up comedy
- writing workshops
- media literacy programs
Key Concepts
instant gratification
cognitive overload
cultural degradation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does speed affect your appreciation of art?
- What can be done to preserve nuance?
A Different Perspective
Rapid consumption can also foster superficial understanding and reduce critical thinking.
![“Well, it seems like a miracle to be able to look forward-to-to see all the minutes in front of one come hopping along with something marvellous in them, instead of just[Pg 295] saying, Well, that one didn't actually hurt and the next may be quite bearable if only something beastly doesn't come…” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fc4/dorothy-l-sayers-738_able_well-it-seems-like-a-miracle-to-be-able_244103.jpg)
![“[To Oleg Cassini:] Just make sure no one has exactly the same dress I do ... I want all of mine to be original & no fat little woman hopping around in the same dress.” quote by Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/99d/jackie-kennedy-11038_dresses_to-oleg-cassini-just-make-sure-no-one-ha_157368.jpg)
