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About this quote

What does it mean?
Those who interpret future events often gain more influence than those who predict them.
In plain terms
Commentators are often more important than prophets.
What can you take from it?
Interpretation can outweigh prediction in influence.

Where it applies

  • media analysis
  • political discourse
  • business forecasting

Putting it to work

  • value interpretation skills
  • study communication dynamics

Questions to consider

  • Who holds more power: the predictor or the interpreter?

Another view

Some prophets hold significant historical weight despite commentators.

More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

  1. Virtue by premeditation isn't worth much.

    Permalink to quote #83
  2. Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoitre the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.

    Permalink to quote #85
  3. He who is enamored of himself will at least have the advantage of being inconvenienced by few rivals.

    Permalink to quote #82

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