“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.”
What this quote means
Thomas Pynchon's quote highlights manipulation through questions. Those who control the questions steer thinking and avoid inconvenient answers. It's a warning against rhetoric that distracts. It urges us to scrutinize the questions asked, identify their assumptions, and ask the right questions ourselves to avoid being manipulated.
How to apply it daily
In a debate or reading, note the questions posed. Rephrase them to reveal what they evade, then seek deeper answers.
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