Envy Quote by Bertrand Russell
““Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling? The reason is clearly that the human heart as modern civilisation has made it is more prone to hatred than to friendship. And it is prone to hatred because it is dissatisfied, because it feels deply, perhaps even unconsciously, that it has somehow missed the meaning of life, that perhaps others, but not we ourselves, have secured the good things which nature offers man's enjoyment.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Propaganda, 1935
Propaganda works better when it fuels hatred because modern civilization makes people more prone to resentment due to unfulfilled existential needs.
In simple terms: Hatred is easier to provoke than friendship because people feel dissatisfied.
Key Takeaway
Address underlying dissatisfaction to reduce hatred.
Themes
propaganda
human nature
civilization
emotions
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- media messaging
- public speeches
- social media
- community building
Key Concepts
existential void
social psychology
mass persuasion
Questions to Reflect On
- What unmet needs drive collective anger?
- How can positive messaging overcome deep dissatisfaction?
A Different Perspective
Hatred can also backfire, leading to resistance or radicalization.
![“[Propaganda] must be aimed at the emotions and only to a very limited degree at the so-called intellect... The art of propaganda lies in understanding the emotional ideas of the great masses and finding, through a psychologically correct form, the way to the attention and thence to the heart of…” quote by Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ba/adolf-hitler-253_art_propaganda-must-be-aimed-at-the-emotions_1005060.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
