Charles Wright Mills Quote on Citizens and Private Life

„If we accept the Greek's definition of the idiot as an altogether private man, then we must conclude that many American citizens are now idiots. And I should not be surprised, although I don't know, if there were some such idiots even in Germany.“

Charles Wright MillsCharles Wright Mills critiques the social role of private citizens as ‘idiots’ based on the Greek definition in this quote.
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Charles Wright Mills was an American sociologist who examined modern societies and the role of intellectuals.

This quote critically reflects on social participation and the private behavior of citizens in a historical and sociological context.


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Quote image featuring Charles Wright Mills on citizens, private life, and public engagement

Charles Wright Mills (1916–1962) was an American sociologist. His work examined postwar societies and the interaction of political, military, and economic elites. His best-known works include “The Power Elite,” “White Collar: The American Middle Classes,” and “The Sociological Imagination.”

Quote image featuring Umberto Eco's thoughts on the internet and public opinionsCopyright © yoice.net – Quote Artwork
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"Given that there are seven billion people living on this earth, there is a consistent quantity of imbecile or idiot, okay. Previously, these people could express themselves only with their friends or at the bar after two or three glasses of something, and they said every silliness, and people laughed. Now they have the possibility to show up on the internet. And so, on the internet, along with the messages of a lot of interesting and important people - even the Pope is writing on Twitter - we have a great quantity of idiots." Umberto Eco
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Quote by Georg Schramm discussing the societal role of demotivated secondary school dropoutsCopyright © yoice.net – Quote Artwork
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"Do we even need these demotivated, disillusioned secondary school dropouts for growth? No! Every DAX corporation proves in its quarterly report that the fewer of such poorly qualified people they have, the greater the growth. No, we only need them as consumers. And if we only need them as consumers, then a fair amount of stupidity can only be helpful. Maybe we are breeding them! Just think about it for a moment, then all the contradictions dissolve; although the anger grows even greater, the intellectual confusion subsides! […] And what does that mean in a country where poverty is currently exploding? That they are breeding a solid class of idiots. […] Also, the consumer centers, maybe even in your federal state, are having their funds cut. Not a wrong decision either. Why? Well, the rabble shouldn't think, hesitate, or compare. They should buy the first piece of rubbish offered during the commercial break. […] We need idiots; otherwise no one would eat spoiled meat." Georg Schramm
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Erich Fromm quote on thinking, happiness, and societyCopyright © yoice.net – Quote Artwork
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"Well now, I believe we are much less stupid than it seems. We are trained not to think. Formulas are drilled into us, which we parrot. But I believe that if the desire for true happiness, for true knowledge were to fully awaken among people in society – what the Enlightenment called with Kant's words: Sapere aude! Dare to know! – and not to consume canned wisdom that someone else has cooked and served, and then even experienced oneself as if I had thought such a thing... I believe that tremendous change could be achieved. People are not that stupid at all. But it is dangerous not to be stupid. Because if you are not stupid, you contradict, criticize, express unpopular opinions. And for safety reasons, it is better to appear stupid." Erich Fromm
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