--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: American traditions and the American…" description: "\"American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/edward-r-murrow-7369_american-tradition_american-traditions-and-the-american-eth_90605.jpg" --- # American traditions and the American ethic require us to… ![“American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.” quote by Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/edward-r-murrow-7369_american-tradition_american-traditions-and-the-american-eth_90605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/edward-r-murrow-7369_american-tradition_american-traditions-and-the-american-eth_90605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/edward-r-murrow-7369_american-tradition_american-traditions-and-the-american-eth_90605.jpg) > “American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.” [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth is presented as the foundation of credibility; without it, persuasion collapses, making honesty essential for effective communication. **In simple terms:** Truth underpins credibility and persuasion. Key Takeaway Honesty is the most powerful persuasive tool. Themes Integrity Credibility Persuasion Truthfulness Ethics Mood Serious Determined Reflective Type Didactic Political When to use this quote - Journalistic reporting - Political speech - Advertising - Public relations Key Concepts Propaganda Believability Credibility chain Practical Applications - Media ethics training - Public speaking workshops Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies value truth in public discourse? - Can strategic truth ever be manipulative? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-tradition/) [Being truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-truthful/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Persuasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasive/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truthful/) ## Related quotes > [That's sort of part of the American ethic - is not to worry too much about the past and that it shouldn't define us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/that-s-sort-of-part-of-the-american-ethic-is-not-to-worry-too-much/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [The art of propaganda lies in understanding the emotional ideas of the great masses and finding, through a psychologically correct form, the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-art-of-propaganda-lies-in-understanding-the-emotional-ideas-of/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [the insight that peace is the end of war, and that therefore a war is the preparation for peace, is at least as old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-insight-that-peace-is-the-end-of-war-and-that-therefore-a-war-is/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [The task of propaganda lies not in a scientific training of the individual, but rather in directing the masses toward certain facts, events, necessities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-task-of-propaganda-lies-not-in-a-scientific-training-of-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Good propaganda does not need to lie, indeed it may not lie. It has no reason to fear the truth. It is a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/good-propaganda-does-not-need-to-lie-indeed-it-may-not-lie-it-has-no/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/all-propaganda-is-lies-even-when-one-is-telling-the-truth/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [ \[Propaganda\] must be aimed at the emotions and only to a very limited degree at the so-called intellect... The art of propaganda lies in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/propaganda-must-be-aimed-at-the-emotions-and-only-to-a-very-limited/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [To be credible we must be truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/to-be-credible-we-must-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [“Let me know what I am able and trust that behind all events no matter how painful there is a reason from which truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-me-know-what-i-am-able-and-trust-that-behind-all-events-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science teaches us, in effect, to submit our reason to the truth and to know and judge of things as they are-that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-teaches-us-in-effect-to-submit-our-reason-to-the-truth-and-to/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [It is not I who am strong, it is reason, it is truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/it-is-not-i-who-am-strong-it-is-reason-it-is-truth/) [Emile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [Even though most people who reject Christianity treat it as a refuge for enemies of reason, the truth is that there may be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/even-though-most-people-who-reject-christianity-treat-it-as-a-refuge/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-experiment-can-be-more-interesting-than-that-we-are-now-trying-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The relationship between truth and reason: "Truth cannot be reached by reason alone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blondel/the-relationship-between-truth-and-reason-truth-cannot-be-reached-by/) [Maurice Blondel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blondel/) > [“Whenever passion prevails over reason, truth becomes a casualty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/whenever-passion-prevails-over-reason-truth-becomes-a-casualty/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) ## More by Edward R. Murrow > [Tuberculosis, starvation, fatigue, and there are many who have no desire to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/tuberculosis-starvation-fatigue-and-there-are-many-who-have-no-desire/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [“A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-great-many-people-think-they-are-thinking-when-they-are-really/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We are in the same tent as the clowns and the freaks-that's show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-are-in-the-same-tent-as-the-clowns-and-the-freaks-that-s-show/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/when-the-politicians-complain-that-tv-turns-the-proceedings-into-a/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/most-truths-are-so-naked-that-people-feel-sorry-for-them-and-cover/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-will-not-be-driven-by-fear-into-an-age-of-unreason-if-we-dig-deep/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Senator McCarthy's reckless and unfounded attempt to impugn my loyalty is just one more example of his typical tactic of attempting to tie up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/senator-mccarthy-s-reckless-and-unfounded-attempt-to-impugn-my/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/our-major-obligation-is-not-to-mistake-slogans-for-solutions/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-must-not-confuse-dissent-with-disloyalty/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-have-currently-a-built-in-allergy-to-unpleasant-or-disturbing/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Don't be deluded into believing that the titular heads of the networks control what appears on their networks. They all have better taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/don-t-be-deluded-into-believing-that-the-titular-heads-of-the/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our history will be what we make of it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge and retribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/our-history-will-be-what-we-make-of-it-if-we-go-on-as-we-are-then/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [I have said, and I believe, that potentially we have in this country a free enterprise system of radio and television which is superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/i-have-said-and-i-believe-that-potentially-we-have-in-this-country-a/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [A reporter is always concerned with tomorrow. There's nothing tangible of yesterday. All I can say I've done is agitate the air ten or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-reporter-is-always-concerned-with-tomorrow-there-s-nothing-tangible/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) [Explore all 92 Edward R. Murrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) ## More American tradition quotes > [Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American traditions. I quickly picked it up when I moved to the U.S. from Sweden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/thanksgiving-is-one-of-my-favorite-american-traditions-i-quickly/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [The word is important in Native American tradition. You speak the path on which you walk. Your words make the trail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-glancy/the-word-is-important-in-native-american-tradition-you-speak-the-path/) [Diane Glancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-glancy/) > [Is the American tradition of self-reliance disappearing? That's a painful question for conservatives to ponder. After all, we're dedicated to reducing the role of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-feulner/is-the-american-tradition-of-self-reliance-disappearing-that-s-a/) [Edwin Feulner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-feulner/) > [The United States of America is still run by its citizens. The government works for us. Rank imperialism and warmongering are not American traditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-united-states-of-america-is-still-run-by-its-citizens-the/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-in-any-walk-of-life-who-is-content-with-mediocrity-is-untrue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like the sensitive look of traditional French films and the fact that the children are often portrayed as rebels, but I also like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-sciamma/i-like-the-sensitive-look-of-traditional-french-films-and-the-fact/) [Celine Sciamma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-sciamma/) > [The principle of self defense is an American tradition that began at Lexington and Concord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-williams/the-principle-of-self-defense-is-an-american-tradition-that-began-at/) [Robert F. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-williams/) > [Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/satan-is-attacking-the-great-institutions-of-america-using-those/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [There's probably more in the American tradition than people give the place credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/there-s-probably-more-in-the-american-tradition-than-people-give-the/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [I don't feel the individualist anarchists, particularly in the American tradition, including the Transcendental tradition of New England, in any way deserve the derogatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-don-t-feel-the-individualist-anarchists-particularly-in-the/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/and-i-should-like-to-assure-you-my-islamic-friends-that-under-the/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I think that Hillary Clinton has an appreciation that American power needs to be put in the service of American values, which is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/i-think-that-hillary-clinton-has-an-appreciation-that-american-power/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [When they talk about family values, it's in a repressive way, as if our American tradition were only the Puritan tradition or the 19th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/when-they-talk-about-family-values-it-s-in-a-repressive-way-as-if-our/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-view-of-the-tide-of-religiosity-engulfing-a-once-secular-republic/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [My concern is to develop a North American type of anarchism that comes out of the American tradition, or that at least can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/my-concern-is-to-develop-a-north-american-type-of-anarchism-that/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) [Browse all 57 American tradition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-tradition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward R. 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