Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Propaganda works better when it fuels hatred than when it tries to create friendliness.
- In plain terms
- Hatred‑based propaganda is more effective than friendly propaganda.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware of messages that incite anger.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why does anger motivate action more than goodwill?
- How can societies resist hateful propaganda?
Another view
Some positive messaging can also be powerful.
More from Bertrand Russell
Young men and young women meet each other with much less difficulty than was formerly the case, and every housemaid expects at least once a week as much excite…
Permalink to quote #119 Conventional people are roused to fury by departures from convention, largely because they regard such departures as a criticism of themselves.
Permalink to quote #121 Boredom is therefore a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.
Permalink to quote #118
Related quotes
Of course, it was not a true uprising of the people. It was inspired by America and other agents. The 'Voice of America' really started it.
Paul RobesonPaul Robeson quote #5 The use of the weapon of falsehood is more necessary in a country where military conscription is not the law of the land than in countries where the manhood of…
Arthur PonsonbyArthur Ponsonby quote #9 I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is mass psychology.... Its importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern me…
Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell quote #178