Flats Quote by Donald James
“The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves. A truth's initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. It wasn't the world being round that agitated people, but that the world wasn't flat. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic.”
About This Quote
The quote warns that people can unknowingly oppress themselves when they accept false beliefs, and that entrenched lies make truth seem absurd.
In simple terms: Self‑imposed oppression and disbelief in truth arise from accepted falsehoods.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions and seek evidence.
Themes
self‑governance
truth
illusion
power
belief
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
cautionary
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- education
- media consumption
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
political theory
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when you are accepting a lie?
- What steps can you take to challenge ingrained false beliefs?
A Different Perspective
Truth may be dismissed if it challenges long‑held false narratives.
![“I know that some of the folks in the press are uptight about this [moving the press corps out of the West Wing ], and I understand. What we're - the only thing that's been discussed is whether or not the initial press conferences are going to be in that small press - and for the people listening…” quote by Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/940/reince-priebus-3623_conferences_i-know-that-some-of-the-folks-in-the-pre_23230.jpg)
![“Gonna rain like a cow pissin' on a flat rock" [drugstore clerk to detective Virgil Flowers] Dark of the Moon, p.7” quote by John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/887/john-sandford-5843_clerks_gonna-rain-like-a-cow-pissin-on-a-flat-r_12063.jpg)
![“I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and all that type of bullshit, going up there and doing a flat 20 [minutes]. I reckon I'd have better stagecraft and presence than Jesus. Yea, I'm a better stand-up comedian than…” quote by Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0fb/jim-jefferies-8092_blessed_i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same_24477.jpg)
