Lying, as we all know, does not take place only in war-time. Man, it has been said, is not 'a veridical animal,' but his habit of lying is not nearly so extraordinary as his amazing readiness to believe. It is, indeed, because of human credulity that lies flourish. But in war-time the authoritative organization of lying is not sufficiently recognized. The deception of whole peoples is not a matter which can be lightly regarded. A useful purpose can therefore be served in the interval of so-called peace by a warning which people can examine with dispassionate calm, that the authorities in each country do, and indeed must, resort to this practice in order, first, to justify themselves by depicting the enemy as an undiluted criminal; and secondly, to inflame popular passion sufficiently to secure recruits for the continuance of the struggle. They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Lying is common beyond war, but human credulity fuels it; governments organize deception to justify enemies and stir passion for recruitment.
- In plain terms
- People readily believe lies, and states exploit this to rally support.
- What can you take from it?
- Maintain a skeptical mindset toward official stories.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do people accept official narratives without question?
- What safeguards can limit state‑organized lying?
Another view
It overgeneralizes that all authorities deliberately deceive, ignoring honest communication.
More from Arthur Ponsonby
Falsehood is a recognized and extremely useful weapon in warfare, and every country uses it quite deliberately to deceive its own people, to attract neutrals, …
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Permalink to quote #8 The object of this volume is not to cast fresh blame on authorities and individuals, nor is it to expose one nation more than another to accusations of deceit.
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