--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are governed, our minds are molded…" description: "\"We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/389/edward-bernays-14230_community_we-are-governed-our-minds-are-molded-our_2174183.jpg" --- # We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed… ![“We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a…” quote by Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/389/edward-bernays-14230_community_we-are-governed-our-minds-are-molded-our_2174183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/389/edward-bernays-14230_community_we-are-governed-our-minds-are-molded-our_2174183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/389/edward-bernays-14230_community_we-are-governed-our-minds-are-molded-our_2174183.jpg) > “We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.” [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. The quote describes how mass media and unseen influencers shape public opinion in democratic societies. **In simple terms:** Invisible forces shape our choices. Key Takeaway Recognize and question media influence. Themes media influence democracy psychology social engineering Mood skeptical inquisitive Type educational reflective When to use this quote - advertising strategies - political campaigns - education curricula - critical thinking workshops Key Concepts propaganda public opinion formation media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals resist subtle persuasion? - What responsibilities do media creators have? A Different Perspective Awareness alone may not change behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-control/) [New world order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world-order/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [World order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-order/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-conscious-and-intelligent-manipulation-of-the-organized-habits-2/) [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/) > [The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organised habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/the-conscious-and-intelligent-manipulation-of-the-organised-habits/) [Edward Bernays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) > [“Me, and thousands of others in this country like me, are half-baked, because we were never allowed to complete our schooling. 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It is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/we-are-dominated-by-the-relatively-small-number-of-persons-who/) [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/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) ## 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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bernays/any-person-or-organization-depends-ultimately-on-public-approval-and/) [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. 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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/) [Explore all 47 Edward Bernays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bernays/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. 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