more information than Shakespeare’s friends
On an average weekday the New York Times contains more information than any contemporary of Shakespeare’s would have acquired in a lifetime. – Anonymous
What does this mean? It seems to be comparing apples with oranges. A reader of the NY Times doesn’t acquire all the information in the NY Times in any meaningful sense.
We have access to far more information, and much more readily, than any contemporary of Shakespeare. But the information we have actually acquired? And understood? And been able to fit into the bigger scheme of things? Or indeed remember a day later?