In order to bring a nation to support the burdens incident…
“In order to bring a nation to support the burdens incident to maintaining great military establishments, it is necessary to create an emotional state akin to war psychology. There must be the portrayal of an external menace or of internal conditions rendered intolerable by the unjust restraints of foreign nations. This involves the development to a high degree of the nation-hero nation-villain ideology and the arousing of the population to a sense of the duty of sacrifice.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A nation must cultivate a war‑like mindset, portraying external threats or intolerable internal conditions, to justify large military forces and sacrifice.
In simple terms: Governments create fear to support big armies.
Key Takeaway
Use propaganda responsibly.
Themes
politics
war
propaganda
nationalism
Mood
anxious
determined
Type
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- military recruitment
- public persuasion
- policy debates
Key Concepts
psychology
ideology
statecraft
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear shape public policy?
- What alternatives exist to rally support?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on fear can erode civil liberties.