Empty promises Quote by Rohinton Mistry
““I made up three lists: Candidate's Accomplishments (real and imaginary), Accusations Against Opponent (including rumours, allegations, innuendos, and lies), and Empty Promises (the more improbable, the better). Then it was merely a matter of taking various combinations of items from the three lists, throwing in some bombast, tossing in a few local references, and, there it was - a brand new speech.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Crafting Political Satire, Rohinton Mistry, 2015
Manipulating facts and rhetoric can fabricate persuasive narratives, highlighting the power of selective storytelling.
In simple terms: Lists of claims and promises create a new speech.
Key Takeaway
Critically evaluate sources and question constructed narratives.
Themes
propaganda
manipulation
politics
creativity
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- advertising
- debates
- media analysis
- public speaking
Key Concepts
communication
ethics
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would you demand before believing a claim?
- How can you spot rhetorical tricks?
A Different Perspective
Risk of spreading misinformation and eroding trust.
![“In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible... Thus, political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging, and sheer cloudy vagueness... Political language [is] designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/837/george-orwell-57_begging_in-our-time-political-speech-and-writing_1334346.jpg)
