Believe Quote by Gertrude Stein
“The thing that is most interesting about government servants is that they believe what they are supposed to believe, they really do believe what they are supposed to believe.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, Gertrude Stein, 1933
Government employees tend to adopt and truly believe the official narratives they are expected to uphold.
In simple terms: Officials internalize the beliefs they are told to hold.
Question the origins of accepted beliefs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public policy analysis
- media literacy
- organizational training
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people accept official narratives?
- How can institutions foster independent thought?
May ignore individual critical thinking and dissent.