--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In so far as it takes effect at all…" description: "\"In so far as it takes effect at all, pacifist propaganda can only be effective against those countries where a certain amount of freedom of speech is s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/george-orwell-57_certain_in-so-far-as-it-takes-effect-at-all-paci_1302866.jpg" --- # In so far as it takes effect at all, pacifist propaganda… ![“In so far as it takes effect at all, pacifist propaganda can only be effective against those countries where a certain amount of freedom of speech is still permitted; in other words it is helpful to totalitarianism.” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/george-orwell-57_certain_in-so-far-as-it-takes-effect-at-all-paci_1302866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/george-orwell-57_certain_in-so-far-as-it-takes-effect-at-all-paci_1302866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/george-orwell-57_certain_in-so-far-as-it-takes-effect-at-all-paci_1302866.jpg) > “In so far as it takes effect at all, pacifist propaganda can only be effective against those countries where a certain amount of freedom of speech is still permitted; in other words it is helpful to totalitarianism.” [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pacifist messages only succeed where free speech exists; otherwise they unintentionally support oppressive regimes. **In simple terms:** Pacifist propaganda helps only free speech. Key Takeaway Consider context of speech. Themes politics propaganda freedom of speech Mood analytical cautionary Type political ethical When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - education - public discourse Key Concepts ethical communication media influence Questions to Reflect On - When is propaganda still useful? - How to protect speech in authoritarian settings? A Different Perspective May ignore the power of covert resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [Helpful Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful-totalitarianism-4283841/) [Pacifist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacifist/) [Pacifist Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacifist-propaganda-3230808/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Propaganda Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda-effective-782568/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarianism/) ## Related quotes > [Pacifist propaganda and the resolutions of the parliamentarians encouraged such treaties, and toward the end of the nineteenth century their number had increased considerably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-quidde/pacifist-propaganda-and-the-resolutions-of-the-parliamentarians/) [Ludwig Quidde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-quidde/) > [“The majority of pacifists either belong to obscure religious sects or are simply humanitarians who object to taking life and prefer not to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-majority-of-pacifists-either-belong-to-obscure-religious-sects-or/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The controversy over freedom of speech and of the press is at bottom a controversy of the desirability, or otherwise, of telling lies. 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A society becomes totalitarian when its structure becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/totalitarianism-however-does-not-so-much-promise-an-age-of-faith-as/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/totalitarianism-if-not-fought-against-could-triumph-anywhere/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“If you can feel that staying human is worth while, even when it can't have any result whatever, you've beaten them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-you-can-feel-that-staying-human-is-worth-while-even-when-it-can-t-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [And I believe that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-i-believe-that-totalitarianism-if-not-fought-against-could/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by George Orwell > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. 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