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About this quote

What does it mean?
People cannot understand things if their income depends on remaining ignorant.
In plain terms
You cannot see the truth if you lose money by seeing it.
What can you take from it?
Economic incentives can block understanding.

Where it applies

  • workplace ethics
  • policy making
  • personal bias

Putting it to work

  • align pay with truth
  • recognize bias

Questions to consider

  • When does knowledge hurt?
  • Who benefits from ignorance?

Another view

Sometimes ignorance is not chosen but structural.

More from Upton Sinclair

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  2. Fascism is capitalism plus murder.

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  3. I am not a giant physically; I shrink from pain and filth and vermin and foul air, like any other man of refinement; also, I freely admit, when I see a line of…

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