War Quote by John Scalzi
““A newspaper publisher. In the late 1800s the United States and Spain were warming up for a war over Cuba, and Hearst sent an illustrator to Cuba to make pictures of the event. When the illustrator got there, he sent a telegram to Hearst saying that as far as he could see, there was no war coming and that he was going home. Hearst sent back that he should stay and said, ‘You furnish the pictures, and I will furnish the war.’ And he did.””
About This Quote
Source Historical anecdote: William Randolph Hearst, 1898, Cuba war coverage
A media mogul can create demand for conflict by supplying sensational images, prompting events to unfold.
In simple terms: Media can provoke the very events it reports.
Key Takeaway
Recognize media influence and seek balanced information.
Themes
media
power
war
propaganda
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
historical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- political activism
- journalism ethics
- public opinion formation
Key Concepts
agenda setting
manufacturing consent
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape your perception of crises?
- What responsibilities do journalists have in conflict zones?
A Different Perspective
Even without media hype, underlying tensions may still lead to conflict.
