“Why you fool, it's the educated reader who CAN be gulled. All our difficulty comes with the others. When did you meet a workman who believes the papers? He takes it for granted that they're all propaganda and skips the leading articles. He buys his paper for the football results and the little paragraphs about girls falling out of windows and corpses found in Mayfair flats. He is our problem. We have to recondition him. But the educated public, the people who read the high-brow weeklies, don't need reconditioning. They're all right already. They'll believe anything.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by C.S. Lewis, he suggests that educated readers are more susceptible to being deceived by media and propaganda compared to the working class. He argues that working class individuals are more skeptical of mainstream media and are able to see through the bias, while educated readers are more likely to believe whatever they read. Lewis highlights that reconditioning the working class to question and analyze what they read is necessary, while the educated public is already equipped to discern the truth. This quote serves as a critique of the educated class's blind faith in information presented to them, warning of the dangers of unquestioning acceptance of media.
Modern Relevance
In this quote by C.S. Lewis, the idea of educated individuals being more susceptible to manipulation is highlighted. In today's age of social media and fake news, this concept remains relevant as educated readers may still fall victim to misinformation and propaganda. It serves as a reminder to critically evaluate information regardless of one's level of education.
Examples of Usage:
This quote from C.S. Lewis highlights the idea that educated readers are more susceptible to being manipulated by the media, while those who are not as educated are more skeptical.
- The quote suggests that workmen are less likely to believe the information presented in newspapers, as they are more focused on the entertainment and sports sections.
- It implies that the educated public who read high-brow weeklies are already critical thinkers and less likely to be influenced by propaganda.
Reflection Questions:
As we reflect on this quote by C.S. Lewis, it raises important questions about the role of education in critical thinking and discernment. Consider the following questions to deepen your understanding:
- How does education affect an individual's ability to critically analyze information and discern truth from propaganda?
- In what ways does the media target different audiences based on their level of education and background?
- How can we empower individuals, regardless of their level of education, to question and evaluate the information they receive?
- How does the quote challenge our assumptions about who is more susceptible to manipulation by the media?
- What actions can we take to promote media literacy and critical thinking skills in all individuals, including those who may be considered "educated"?
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