--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any person or organization depends…" description: "\"Any person or organization depends ultimately on public approval, and is therefore faced with the problem of engineering the public's consent to a prog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png" --- # Any person or organization depends ultimately on public… ![“Any person or organization depends ultimately on public approval, and is therefore faced with the problem of engineering the public's consent to a program or goal.” quote by Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png) > “Any person or organization depends ultimately on public approval, and is therefore faced with the problem of engineering the public's consent to a program or goal.” [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public consent must be engineered through strategic communication to achieve collective goals. **In simple terms:** Influence public opinion deliberately. Key Takeaway Master persuasive messaging for societal impact. Themes public opinion engineering communication politics Mood cautious analytical Type political educational When to use this quote - political campaigns - advertising - policy advocacy Key Concepts mass media psychology social manipulation Questions to Reflect On - What ethical boundaries should guide persuasion? - How can transparency protect public trust? A Different Perspective Risks manipulation and erosion of authentic democratic discourse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [“Our social structures depend on the organization. The organization depends on industry, which in turn depends on the market. The market depends on society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/our-social-structures-depend-on-the-organization-the-organization/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [The fortitude of any organization depends solely on the quality of its leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bydder/the-fortitude-of-any-organization-depends-solely-on-the-quality-of/) Richard Bydder > [If your project or organization depends on knowing things that other people don't know (but could find out if they wanted to), your days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-your-project-or-organization-depends-on-knowing-things-that-other/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“The future of your organization depends on motivated human beings selflessly contributing unasked-for gifts of emotional labor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-future-of-your-organization-depends-on-motivated-human-beings/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The fundamental way of getting public approval is to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-page/the-fundamental-way-of-getting-public-approval-is-to-deserve-it/) Arthur W. Page > [“And is that why we do what we do? For public approval, for fame? Do we help people because they will be appropriately grateful--or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/and-is-that-why-we-do-what-we-do-for-public-approval-for-fame-do-we/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [All business begins with the public permission and exists by public approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-page/all-business-begins-with-the-public-permission-and-exists-by-public/) Arthur W. Page > [“It’s about good copy and ensuring that cases can be made into top-notch documentaries on the telly. Public approval is the all-important currency these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/it-s-about-good-copy-and-ensuring-that-cases-can-be-made-into-top/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Do right, and public approval will follow; either the next hour or the next century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-lettsome/do-right-and-public-approval-will-follow-either-the-next-hour-or-the/) John C. Lettsome > [The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-engineering-of-consent-is-the-very-essence-of-the-democratic/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Edward Bernays > [The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-conscious-and-intelligent-manipulation-of-the-organized-habits/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The American motion picture is the greatest unconscious carrier of propaganda in the world today. It is a great distributor for ideas and opinions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-american-motion-picture-is-the-greatest-unconscious-carrier-of/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [If we understand the mechanisms and motives of the group mind, it is now possible to control and regiment the masses according to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/if-we-understand-the-mechanisms-and-motives-of-the-group-mind-it-is/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [Small groups of persons can, and do, make the rest of us think what they please about a given subject. But there are usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/small-groups-of-persons-can-and-do-make-the-rest-of-us-think-what/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The invisible government tends to be concentrated in the hands of the few because of the expense of manipulating the social machinery which controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-invisible-government-tends-to-be-concentrated-in-the-hands-of-the/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The only difference between 'propaganda' and 'education,' really, is in the point of view. The advocacy of what we believe in is education. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-only-difference-between-propaganda-and-education-really-is-in-the/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The best defense against propaganda: more propaganda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-best-defense-against-propaganda-more-propaganda/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [Our invisible governors are, in many cases, unaware of the identity of their fellow members in the inner cabinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/our-invisible-governors-are-in-many-cases-unaware-of-the-identity-of/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The counsel on public relations is not an advertising man but he advocates for advertising where that is indicated. Very often he is called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-counsel-on-public-relations-is-not-an-advertising-man-but-he/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/vast-numbers-of-human-beings-must-cooperate-in-this-manner-if-they/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/we-are-governed-our-minds-are-molded-our-tastes-formed-our-ideas/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [I believe that competition in the future will not be only an advertising competition between individual products or between big associations, but that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/i-believe-that-competition-in-the-future-will-not-be-only-an/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [The best place to find things: the public library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-best-place-to-find-things-the-public-library/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [If you can influence the leaders, either with or without their conscious cooperation, you automatically influence the group which they sway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/if-you-can-influence-the-leaders-either-with-or-without-their/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [For the same reason I read the National Geographic, I like to see places I will never visit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/for-the-same-reason-i-read-the-national-geographic-i-like-to-see/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) [Explore all 47 Edward Bernays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Any person or organization depends ultimately on public approval, and is therefore faced with the problem of engineering the public's consent to a program or goal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Bernays" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/any-person-or-organization-depends-ultimately-on-public-approval-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Approval" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/any-person-or-organization-depends-ultimately-on-public-approval-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/edward-bernays-14230_approval_any-person-or-organization-depends-ultim_542143.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any person or organization depends ultimately on public approval, and is therefore faced with the problem of…” — Edward Bernays", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Bernays", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Any person or organization depends ultimately...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/any-person-or-organization-depends-ultimately-on-public-approval-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/any-person-or-organization-depends-ultimately-on-public-approval-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```