On Propaganda
The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. …We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.
Source: – Edward Bernays, Propaganda, 1928
Predictions
It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.
Source: Yogi Berra
Preference
Men prefer a false promise to a flat refusal.
Source: – Quintus Cicero
Remarkable Illusion
Susan Ivanova: “I have to admit, I’m a little bit skeptical about that.”
Lorien: “Skepticism is the language of the mind. What does your heart tell you?”
Ivanova: “My heart and I don’t speak anymore.”
Lorien: “So I’ve noticed.”
. . .
Lorien: “To live on as we have is to leave behind joy, and love, and companionship, because we know it to be transitory, of the moment. We know it will turn to ash. Only those whose lives are brief can imagine that love…is eternal. You should embrace that remarkable illusion. It may be the greatest gift your race has ever received.”
Source: – Susan Ivanova and Lorien in the “Into the Fire” episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 Series. 1994.
Results
If you want creative insubordination, hire men. If you want faithful implementation, hire women.
Source: – Dr. Gary North
Smooth Explanation
Joel Cairo: “You always have a smooth explanation.”
Sam Spade: “What do you want me to do? Learn to stutter?”
Source: The Maltese Falcon. Republic Pictures. 1941.
Strange Creature
Clerk of the Court: “Peter Blood. How do your plead, guilty or not-guilty?”
Dr. Peter Blood: “It’s entirely innocent, I am.”
…
Prosecutor: “Did you know that it is against the King’s law to aid, comfort, or succor a rebel?”
Dr. Peter Blood: “I knew only my sacred duty as a physician.”
Prosecutor: “Your sacred duty, you ROGUE, IS TO YOUR KING!”
Dr. Peter Blood: (subdued retort) “I thought it was to my fellow man.”
…
Dr. Peter Blood: “What strange creature, must sit on the throne, that lets a man like you deal out his justice.”
Source: – Dr. Peter Blood, the scene in the King’s Court, being condemned as a traitor. Captain Blood, Republic Pictures, 1935.
Sword And Spirit
There are only two powers in the world…the sword and the spirit. In the long term the sword is always defeated by the spirit.
Source: – Napoleon Bonaparte
TEST Quotation One
The following two paragraphs are formatted as “Quotes:”
(“Quote” styling test 1) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(“Quote” styling test 2) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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The following styles are working correctly:
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- (“Bullet” styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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(Normal paragraph default styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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- (“Numbered” list styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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- (“Numbered” list styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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- (“Numbered” list styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
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(“Bold” styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(“Italics” styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(“Right Justified” styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(“Center Justified” styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(Normal paragraph default styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
(Normal paragraph default styling) The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s back 0123456789 times.
***End of styling test ***
Source: The traditional test for the teletype character set.
The Choice
A moment’s courage, or a lifetime of regret.
That’s always been the choice.
Source: Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright, From the BBC television series Endeavour, Season 6, Episode 4, “Degüello”
The Crisis
Management By Crisis requires a[ny] present crisis as the vehicle for control. It’s just a matter of selling something as a present crisis. That is to say, it matters less which shoe drops, as long as a shoe drops.
Source: – Harry Hobbes
The Need for Freedom
No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we…will…be…free.
Source: – Citizen G’Kar. J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 Series. 1994.
The Scientific Euphemism for “Fudge”
We prefer to call it “intellectual phase-locking.”
Source: – Rupert Sheldrake – The Science Delusion BANNED TED TALK
The Shoes on Your Feet
Faith and reason are the shoes on your feet. You can travel further with both than you can with just one.
Source: – Brother Alwyn in “The Deconstruction of Falling Stars” episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 Series. 1994.
The True Soldier
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
Source: ― G.K. Chesterton