"The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate," according to theologian and educator Joseph Priestley.
By "less" I think he means a qualitative "less" rather than a quantitative "less." Shallower.
It's a nice quote, but I don't necessarily agree with this. I think the means and modes of communication have changed. But ever generation thinks it was better when they were younger.
Aristotle himself railed against the written word, claiming it would take away from pure spoken dialogue. (I'll have to find a citation for that.)
