--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We fed the public a line of deceit…" description: "\"We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded because the time was right and the news media coo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-disho_2015816.jpg" --- # We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a… ![“We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded because the time was right and the news media cooperated. We sensationalized the effects of illegal abortions, and fabricated polls which indicated that 85 percent of the public favored…” quote by Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-disho_2015816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-disho_2015816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-disho_2015816.jpg) > “We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded because the time was right and the news media cooperated. We sensationalized the effects of illegal abortions, and fabricated polls which indicated that 85 percent of the public favored unrestricted abortion, when we knew it was only 5 percent. We unashamedly lied, and yet our statements were quoted \[by the media\] as though they had been written in law.” [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote exposes deliberate manipulation of public opinion through false statistics and media collusion to advance a political agenda. **In simple terms:** False data used to sway public opinion. Key Takeaway Question media integrity and verify sources. Themes politics media ethics propaganda truth Mood cautious critical skeptical Type political controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - public health campaigns - media reporting - activist strategies Key Concepts Manipulation public opinion fabrication media collusion Questions to Reflect On - How can societies guard against statistical deception? - What responsibilities do journalists have in fact‑checking? A Different Perspective Reliance on false data can backfire when exposed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Fabrication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabrication/) [Feds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feds/) [In-laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-laws/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [News media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-media/) [Polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polls/) [Pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-life/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) ## Related quotes > [I did not go to the Supreme Court on behalf of a class of women. I wasn't pursuing any legal remedy to my unwanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/i-did-not-go-to-the-supreme-court-on-behalf-of-a-class-of-women-i/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-dishonesty-a-fabrication-of-2/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-discover-in-the-gospels-a-groundwork-of-vulgar-ignorance-of-things/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A lot of the jobs I had revolved around metal fabrication and creating and building and maintaining equipment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schultz/a-lot-of-the-jobs-i-had-revolved-around-metal-fabrication-and/) [Mike Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schultz/) > [Giving free advice is a sad waste of effort. 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But there is some sheer fabrication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tundra/most-of-the-lyrics-are-rooted-in-my-own-experiences-but-there-is-some/) [Max Tundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tundra/) > [“It is my conviction that, with the spread of true scientific culture, whatever may be the medium, historical, philological, philosophical, or physical, through which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/it-is-my-conviction-that-with-the-spread-of-true-scientific-culture/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [The main difference seems to be that, whereas photography still claims some sort of objectivity, digital imaging is an overtly fictional process. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-batchen/the-main-difference-seems-to-be-that-whereas-photography-still-claims/) [Geoffrey Batchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-batchen/) > [Your perception of the world is ... really a fabrication of your model of the world. You don't really see light or sound. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hawkins/your-perception-of-the-world-is-really-a-fabrication-of-your-model-of/) [Jeff Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hawkins/) > [“Silence is better than a fabrication.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/silence-is-better-than-a-fabrication/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More by Bernard Nathanson > [ I remember laughing when we made those slogans up \[about abortion\]. . . . We were looking for some sexy, catchy slogans to capture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/i-remember-laughing-when-we-made-those-slogans-up-about-abortion-we/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [Fewer women would have abortions if wombs had windows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/fewer-women-would-have-abortions-if-wombs-had-windows/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [Another myth we fed to the public through the media was that legalizing abortion would only mean that the abortions taking place i1legally would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/another-myth-we-fed-to-the-public-through-the-media-was-that/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [ At the end of the two years that I was the director \[of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health in Manhattan\], we had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/at-the-end-of-the-two-years-that-i-was-the-director-of-the-center-for/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [There is no longer serious doubt in my mind that human life exists from the very onset of pregnancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/there-is-no-longer-serious-doubt-in-my-mind-that-human-life-exists/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-dishonesty-a-fabrication-of-2/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/a-favorite-pro-abortion-tactic-is-to-insist-that-the-definition-of/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) [Explore all 8 Bernard Nathanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. 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That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded because the time was right and the news media cooperated. We sensationalized the effects of illegal abortions, and fabricated polls which indicated that 85 percent of the public favored unrestricted abortion, when we knew it was only 5 percent. 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