Hermann Goering:
Naturally the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia,
nor in England,
nor in America,
nor in Germany.
That is understood.
But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine 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 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.
quote verified at snopes.com
Naturally the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia,
nor in England,
nor in America,
nor in Germany.
That is understood.
But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine 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 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.
quote verified at snopes.com
Hermann was a very scary man...perhaps, insanely so.
ReplyDeleteThis quote however, speaks to a truth that I see lived out in our own democracy; and this is, I think, even scarier than Hermann ever was.