"Un journal est un dispositif pour rendre les ignorants plus ignorants et les fous plus fous"
— H. L. Mencken
Simplified Meaning:
The quote means that sometimes, newspapers can spread misinformation or biased news that make uninformed people even less knowledgeable. Instead of providing clear and factual information, they might exaggerate or twist stories. This is like if someone already confused about what's true reads misleading articles and ends up even more confused. Similarly, people with extreme or irrational ideas might read sensational news that feeds into their beliefs, making them believe even stranger things. For instance, if someone already believes in wild conspiracy theories and then reads a biased article supporting those ideas, it can make their beliefs stronger and more extreme. To avoid falling into these traps, it's important to check multiple sources and think critically about the information we consume.