--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Propaganda ... serves more to justify…" description: "\"Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel guilty, the more fervent our propaganda.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg" --- # Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to… ![“Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel guilty, the more fervent our propaganda.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg) > “Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel guilty, the more fervent our propaganda.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Propaganda often serves self‑justification, especially when guilt fuels it. **In simple terms:** Propaganda justifies ourselves more than convinces others. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑serving narratives. Themes propaganda guilt self‑justification Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate messaging - social media discourse - personal rationalizations Key Concepts psychology media studies Questions to Reflect On - What guilt triggers your defensive narratives? - How can you separate self‑justification from truth? A Different Perspective May underestimate genuine persuasive power of honest messaging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Feel Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-guilty/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fervent Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fervent-propaganda-5193094/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Justify Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify-convince-5193096/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Propaganda Serves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda-serves-5193095/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Those who feel guilty are afraid; and those who are afraid somehow feel guilty. To the onlooker, too, the fearful seem guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/those-who-feel-guilty-are-afraid-and-those-who-are-afraid-somehow/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“No. It would help if I were able to feel guilty.But the end of innocence is also the end of guilt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/no-it-would-help-if-i-were-able-to-feel-guilty-but-the-end-of/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“I know I shouldn't feel guilty for being angry sometimes, or bitter" "Knowing something is beans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/i-know-i-shouldn-t-feel-guilty-for-being-angry-sometimes-or-bitter/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [I can say that I'm a feminist and I try to be progressive and all that stuff. But I when I'm tired or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-delaney/i-can-say-that-i-m-a-feminist-and-i-try-to-be-progressive-and-all/) [Rob Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-delaney/) > [I tend to be a little too old to feel guilty about watching anything. Like, I watch 'Survivor' every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-tend-to-be-a-little-too-old-to-feel-guilty-about-watching-anything/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [I do feel guilty. I do. Especially about my family, my children. I write about them, and I know that this will haunt them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/i-do-feel-guilty-i-do-especially-about-my-family-my-children-i-write/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [If you feel guilty or quietly ashamed, seek the power of the Atonement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-f-marriott/if-you-feel-guilty-or-quietly-ashamed-seek-the-power-of-the-atonement/) [Neill F. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-f-marriott/) > [Jesus doesn't care if you feel guilty. Jesus wants you to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miles/jesus-doesn-t-care-if-you-feel-guilty-jesus-wants-you-to-change/) [Sarah Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miles/) > [Never underestimate a man's ability to make you feel guilty for his mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/never-underestimate-a-man-s-ability-to-make-you-feel-guilty-for-his/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [“\_Sunday!\_ In the country Sunday is the day on which you do exactly as much work as you do on other days but feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-macdonald/sunday-in-the-country-sunday-is-the-day-on-which-you-do-exactly-as/) [Betty MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-macdonald/) > [“I'm sorry," he said. He shook his head. "There are about a dozen girls who I had to say I was sorry to because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-bell/i-m-sorry-he-said-he-shook-his-head-there-are-about-a-dozen-girls-who/) [Audrey Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-bell/) > [“I had nothing to feel guilty about. I had no one to answer to. I could look back upon my short life with Scott…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vee-hoffman/i-had-nothing-to-feel-guilty-about-i-had-no-one-to-answer-to-i-could/) [Vee Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vee-hoffman/) > [“I remembered my father telling me when I was a little girl, "Guilt is bullshit. Don't ever let anyone make you feel guilty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylie-jones/i-remembered-my-father-telling-me-when-i-was-a-little-girl-guilt-is/) [Kaylie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylie-jones/) > [“We must not feel guilty for what we cannot control, dear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bein/we-must-not-feel-guilty-for-what-we-cannot-control-dear/) [Steve Bein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bein/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Convince quotes > [“Sometimes we want something to be true so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/sometimes-we-want-something-to-be-true-so-badly-that-we-convince/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The people on the QVC shopping channel convince me that life is worth living. They see the good in everything. People who go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/the-people-on-the-qvc-shopping-channel-convince-me-that-life-is-worth/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [“What can I say to convince you the Houses of Parliament dissolve night after night to become the fluid dream of the Thames? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/what-can-i-say-to-convince-you-the-houses-of-parliament-dissolve/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“If you can convince yourself, you can convince the other fellow,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/if-you-can-convince-yourself-you-can-convince-the-other-fellow/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [Don't lie to yourself about what you can't or can achieve. Convince yourself on a realistic level that you can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-yourself-about-what-you-can-t-or-can-achieve-convince/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't ever let anyone convince you that your imagination is wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/don-t-ever-let-anyone-convince-you-that-your-imagination-is-wrong/) [Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/) > [It's hard to convince your agents and managers to do theater, because it's not as financially rewarding and it takes up a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/it-s-hard-to-convince-your-agents-and-managers-to-do-theater-because/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I guess that is the strange part of the human brain that people have studied for eons - is hatred and self-hatred. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-guess-that-is-the-strange-part-of-the-human-brain-that-people-have/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [I knew I shouldn't like him cause I know it's not working, and everybody tells me that, and I convince myself I don't... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-knew-i-shouldn-t-like-him-cause-i-know-it-s-not-working-and/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) [Browse all 1,431 Convince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel guilty, the more fervent our propaganda.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-ourselves-than-to-convince-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Convince" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-ourselves-than-to-convince-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/eric-hoffer-343_convince_propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-oursel_3070716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Propaganda ... serves more to justify ourselves than to convince others; and the more reason we have to feel…” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Propaganda ... serves more to justify...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-ourselves-than-to-convince-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/propaganda-serves-more-to-justify-ourselves-than-to-convince-others/#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 } } ] } ```