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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker dismisses facts unless they bring humor, fear, or wealth.
In plain terms
Facts only matter if they make you laugh, scare you, or rich.
What can you take from it?
Value often depends on impact, not facts.

Where it applies

  • media consumption
  • education
  • policy

Putting it to work

  • prioritize impact
  • communicate facts

Questions to consider

  • What makes facts matter?
  • Why value facts?

Another view

It ignores facts that don't immediately impact emotions or wealth.

More from Kurt Vonnegut

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  3. I think William Shakespeare was the wisest human being I ever heard of. To be perfectly frank, though, that's not saying much. We are impossibly conceited anim…

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