The only kind of appeal that wins any instinctive response…
““The only kind of appeal that wins any instinctive response in party politics is an appeal to hostile feeling; the men who perceive the need of cooperation are powerless. Until education has been directed for a generation into new channels, and the Press has abandoned incitements to hatred, only harmful policies have any chance of being adopted in practice by our present political methods. But there is no obvious means of altering education and the Press until our political system is altered. From this dilemma there is no issue by means of ordinary action, at any rate for a long time to come. The best that can be hoped, it seems to me, is that we should, as many of us as possible, become political skeptics, rigidly abstaining from belief in the various attractive party programmes that are put before us from time to time.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues that political appeal relies on hostility, not cooperation, and that education and media must change before politics can improve, so skepticism is safest.
In simple terms: Politics thrives on fear; cooperation is ignored.
Key Takeaway
Adopt skeptical, independent thinking.
Themes
politics
media
education
skepticism
cooperation
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
skeptical
When to use this quote
- voting
- media consumption
- education reform
- public discourse
Key Concepts
hostility
public opinion
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals foster cooperation in hostile political climates?
- What role can independent media play?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched media and education systems is extremely difficult.