I imagine that most Americans view Latvia, for example, without either love or hate, and the consequence is that they know nothing about Latvia. If they love or hate a country their newspapers will supply them with favourable or unfavourable information, as the case may be, and their prejudices will gradually come to be confirmed by a mass of what appears to be knowledge.
Source: Mortals and Others; Bertrand Russell's American Essays, 1931-1935, v.1
More info.： https://russell-j.com/AS-O-SEE.HTM
* a brief comment:
People tend to prioritize seeking information and knowledge about topics they are interested in while ignoring those they are less concerned about due to time constraints. This is inevitable, but there is a vast difference between those who are aware of this tendency and are cautious in making definitive statements and those who are unaware and speak solely based on their personal likes and dislikes. When preferences align, it can be pleasant, but in reality, people usually have different tastes. From a societal perspective, a society (or nation) where many people prioritize their personal likes and dislikes when making judgments is not an ideal one.
Russell takes Americans as an example here, but the same applies to people in major powers such as Russia and China.
* Amazon Gift Card
