Capitalism Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“The masses favor socialism because they trust the socialist propaganda of the intellectuals. The intellectuals, not the populace, are molding public opinion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Action, Ludwig von Mises, 1949
People often accept ideas from intellectual elites, allowing those elites to shape public opinion and policy.
In simple terms: Intellectuals influence masses through propaganda.
Key Takeaway
Question sources of information.
Themes
politics
media influence
propaganda
public opinion
elite power
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- voting decisions
- media consumption
- policy debates
- education curricula
Key Concepts
information theory
social dynamics
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Who are the intellectuals shaping your views?
- How can you verify the credibility of information?
A Different Perspective
Intellectuals may also be influenced by their own biases and interests.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
