“Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Hermann Goering, the former Nazi leader provides insight into the manipulation of the masses by those in power. He highlights the idea that it is the leaders of a country who ultimately determine its policies, and they can easily sway public opinion towards war by creating fear and portraying those advocating for peace as unpatriotic. This quote serves as a stark reminder of how easily individuals can be influenced and misled by those in positions of authority.
Modern Relevance
In this quote attributed to Hermann Goering, the former Nazi leader highlights the manipulative tactics used by political leaders to justify war and manipulate public opinion. This concept is still relevant in today's world, as leaders around the globe continue to utilize fear-mongering and nationalism to gather support for military interventions or conflicts. This quote serves as a reminder to critically evaluate the motives behind decisions for war and to remain vigilant against potential manipulation by those in power.
Example of Usage
In a speech delivered by Hermann Goering, a high-ranking Nazi official, he explained how easy it is for leaders to manipulate the public into supporting war by creating a sense of fear and patriotism. This quote highlights the dangerous power that leaders hold in shaping public opinion and justifying war efforts.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on this quote from Hermann Goering, it's crucial to consider the idea of manipulation of the masses by political leaders in times of conflict. Here are some questions to ponder:
- How do political leaders use fear to mobilize the population for war?
- In what ways can propaganda be used to manipulate public opinion and justify military actions?
- What role do peacemakers and advocates for diplomacy play in preventing conflicts and challenging war rhetoric?
- How can individuals resist being swayed by patriotic appeals and misinformation in times of crisis?
- What are the dangers of blindly following political leaders without questioning their motives or the reasons for engaging in warfare?
Similar quotes
“Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America nor, for that matter, in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. ... [V]oice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”
“All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
“Thomas Jefferson once said: 'Of course the people don't want war. But the people can be brought to the bidding of their leader. All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked and denounce the pacifists for somehow a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.' I think that was Jefferson. Oh wait. That was Hermann Goering. Shoot."[Hosting the Peabody Awards for broadcasting excellence at the New York Waldorf-Astoria, June 6, 2006]”
“Those who kow-towed to the prosecution and denounced the Nazi regime got it in the neck just the same. It serves them right.”
“You see, King, we have a legend - I used to believe that it was all fairy-tale rubbish and empty smoke. It is a legend about how such things as war and death and despair were common in our country at one time. These terrible words, which we have long since stopped using in our language, can be read in collections of our old tales, and they sound awful to us and even a little ridiculous. Today I've learned that these tales are all true... But now tell me, don't you have in your soul a sort of intimation that you're not doing the right thing? Don't you have a yearning for bright, serene gods, for sensible and cheerful leaders and mentors? Don't you ever dream in your sleep about another, more beautiful life where nobody is envious of others, where reason and order prevails, where people treat other people only with cheerfulness and considerations?”
“Kat and Kropp get in an argument over the war as they rest from an hour’s worth of drill (occasioned by Tjaden’s not saluting a major properly). Kat believes the war would be over if leaders gave all the participants “the same grub and the same pay,” as he says in a rhyme. Kropp believes the leaders of each country should fight each other in an arena to settle the war; the “wrong” people currently do the fighting.”