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Quote by Walter Lippmann

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Drift and Mastery: An Attempt to Diagnose the Current Unrest

This book delves into the complexities of modern-day social instability, analyzing factors contributing to widespread unease and examining potential solutions. more

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Walter Lippmann
Walter Lippmann

Walter Lippmann was a prominent American writer and political commentator, born on September 23, 1889, and died on December 14, 1974. He was known for his profound insights into political and social issues and was one of the most influential political analysts in the United States during the 20th century. more

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“The ordinary politician has a very low estimate of human nature. In his daily life he comes into contact chiefly with persons who want to get something or to avoid something. Beyond this circle of seekers after privileges, individuals and organized minorities, he is aware of a large unorganized, indifferent mass of citizens who ask nothing in particular and rarely complain. The politician comes after a while to think that the art of politics is to satisfy the seekers after favors and to mollify the inchoate mass with noble sentiments and patriotic phrases.”

ThinkingWantHumansPersonsArtAsksPoliticsIndividualHuman NatureParticularCitizensPoliticianMassLowsOrdinaryPrivilegeNobleComplainingFavorsCirclesContactPhrasesOrganizedMinoritiesDaily LifePatrioticSentimentsIndifferentSeekers
Book:The Essential Lippmann: A Political Philosophy for Liberal Democracy
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“Successful democratic politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle, or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies. The decisive consideration is not whether the proposition is good but whether it is popular -- not whether it will work well and prove itself but whether the active talking constituents like it immediately. Politicians rationalize this servitude by saying that in a democracy public men are the servants of the people.”

PeopleMenWellsPoliticsTalkingDemocracySuccessfulPoliticianProveElementsDemocraticActiveManageServantConsiderationInsecureThreateningPropositionsManipulateIntimidatedProve ItServitudeConstituentsSeducingBribeRationalizeAppeaseBamboozle
Author:Walter Lippmann
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“The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon the seat of government. It is an ability to penetrate from the na?ve self-interest of each group to its permanent and real interest. Statesmanship consists in giving the people not what they want but what they will learn to want.”

PeopleWantGivingArtRealSelfGovernmentPoliticsInterestAbilityGroupsModernConditionsPoliticianElementsChiefsPermanentConfusedSeatsPenetrateSelf InterestStatesmanship
Author:Walter Lippmann
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“There is no question but that if Jesus Christ, or a great prophet from another religion, were to come back today, he would find it virtually impossible to convince anyone of his credentials despite the fact that the vast evangelical machine on American television is predicated on His imminent return among us sinners.”

IfsFactsTodayJesusChristImpossibleTelevisionReturnJesus ChristMachinesDespiteProphetConvinceSinnerProphecyEvangelicalCredentialsAmerican Television
Author:Peter Ustinov
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