"Hastiness and superficiality are the psychic diseases of the 20th century, and more than anywhere else this disease is reflected in the press"
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
About this Quote
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's quote is a criticism of journalism in the 20th century. He thinks that journalism is a reflection of the hastiness and superficiality that has actually become a "psychic illness" of the century. He is suggesting that the press is not putting in the time to correctly research and examine stories, rather opting for fast and shallow protection. This lack of depth and detail in the press is a sign of the larger problem of hastiness and superficiality that has actually become prevalent in the 20th century. Solzhenitsyn's quote is a caution that this absence of attention to information and depth in the press can have a negative impact on society. He is suggesting that if journalism does not make the effort to properly examine stories, then the general public will not have the ability to make educated decisions.
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