---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is already apparent that the word…"
description: "\"“It is already apparent that the word 'Fascist' will be one of the hardest-worked words in the Presidential campaign. Henry Wallace called some people ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/e-b-white-2-8829_america-first_it-is-already-apparent-that-the-word-fas_2741789.jpg"
---

#  It is already apparent that the word 'Fascist' will be one…

![“It is already apparent that the word 'Fascist' will be one of the hardest-worked words in the Presidential campaign. Henry Wallace called some people Fascists the other day in a speech and next day up jumped Harrison Spangler, the Republican, to remark that if there were any Fascists in this…” quote by E.B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/e-b-white-2-8829_america-first_it-is-already-apparent-that-the-word-fas_2741789.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/e-b-white-2-8829_america-first_it-is-already-apparent-that-the-word-fas_2741789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/e-b-white-2-8829_america-first_it-is-already-apparent-that-the-word-fas_2741789.jpg)

> ““It is already apparent that the word 'Fascist' will be one of the hardest-worked words in the Presidential campaign. Henry Wallace called some people Fascists the other day in a speech and next day up jumped Harrison Spangler, the Republican, to remark that if there were any Fascists in this country you would find them in the New Deal's palace guard. It is getting so a Fascist is a man who votes the other way. Persons who vote your way, of course, continue to be 'right-minded people.' We are sorry to see this misuse of the word 'Fascist.' If we recall matters, a Fascist is a member of the Fascist party or a believer in Fascist ideals. These are: a nation founded on bloodlines, political expansion by surprise and war, murder or detention of unbelievers, transcendence of state over individual, obedience to one leader, contempt for parliamentary forms, plus some miscellaneous gymnastics for the young and a general feeling of elation. It seems to us that there are many New Deal Democrats who do not subscribe to such a program, also many aspiring Republicans. Other millions of Americans are nonsubscribers. It's too bad to emasculate the word 'Fascist' by using it on persons whose only offense is that they vote the wrong ticket. The word should be saved for use in cases where it applies, as it does to members of our Ku Klux Klan, for instance, whose beliefs and practices are identical with Fascism. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), there is a certain quality in Fascism which is quite close to a certain quality in nationalism. Fascism is openly against people-in-general, in favor of people-in-particular. Nationalism, although in theory not dedicated to such an idea, actually works against people-in-general because of its preoccupation with people-in-particular. It reminds one of Fascism, also, in its determination to stabilize its own position by whatever haphazard means present themselves--by treaties, policies, balances, agreements, pacts, and the jockeying for position which is summed up in the term 'diplomacy.' This doesn't make an America Firster a Fascist. It simply makes him, in our opinion, a man who hasn't grown into his pants yet. The persons who have written most persuasively against nationalism are the young soldiers who have got far enough from our shores to see the amazing implications of a planet. Once you see it, you never forget it.””

[E.B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The term “fascist” is being overused for political opponents, diluting its true meaning tied to extremist ideology.

**In simple terms:** People misuse “fascist” for anyone they disagree with, weakening its definition.

Key Takeaway

Reserve “fascist” for genuine extremist beliefs.

Themes

politics language misuse extremism definition

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- public discourse
- media analysis
- education on political terms
- historical context

Key Concepts

semantic erosion political rhetoric ideological labeling

Questions to Reflect On

- How does word inflation affect political dialogue?
- What safeguards preserve term accuracy?

A Different Perspective

Overuse can hinder honest debate.

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