--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way brainwashing works is subtle and…" description: "\"The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.\" — Sean Durkin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png" --- # The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time. ![“The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.” quote by Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png) > “The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.” [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Brainwashing subtly reshapes thoughts over time, often unnoticed. **In simple terms:** Brainwashing changes minds slowly. Key Takeaway Beware gradual influence. Themes manipulation psychology control subtlety time Mood cautious critical Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - cult recruitment - advertising - peer pressure Key Concepts Cognitive bias social influence propaganda Questions to Reflect On - How can you detect subtle persuasion? - What safeguards protect independent thought? A Different Perspective Awareness alone may not stop it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brainwashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainwashing/) [Brainwashing Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainwashing-works-2531235/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Brainwashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-brainwashing-2531236/) [Works Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-subtle-2531237/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. 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Nothing can ever be forced into anyone's mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/teachers-may-think-they-are-stuffing-minds-but-all-they-are-ever/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [It is no coincidence that one cardinal rule in brainwashing is to remove from the victim all photographs of himself and people he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-coleman/it-is-no-coincidence-that-one-cardinal-rule-in-brainwashing-is-to/) [A. D. Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-coleman/) > [If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship, human rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/if-there-is-no-word-that-means-you-don-t-have-the-concept-in-north/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [During my training I was trained in Psycho-politics. This was the art of capturing the minds of a nation through brainwashing and fake mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goff/during-my-training-i-was-trained-in-psycho-politics-this-was-the-art/) [Kenneth Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goff/) > [“A cult is a group of people who share an obsessive devotion to a person or idea. The cults described in this book use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-smith/a-cult-is-a-group-of-people-who-share-an-obsessive-devotion-to-a/) [Margaret Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-smith/) > [My family brainwashed me, like I'm brainwashing my children. They brainwashed me with good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madlib/my-family-brainwashed-me-like-i-m-brainwashing-my-children-they/) [Madlib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madlib/) > [Maybe primitive people have less bullshit to let go of, to give up. 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I know more about it now, but it's very difficult to move away from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-burt/american-acculturation-is-a-very-powerful-form-of-brainwashing-i-know/) [Dan Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-burt/) > [“But there was nothing beautiful about the word "brainwash". To clean the brain. To strip it bare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-malley/but-there-was-nothing-beautiful-about-the-word-brainwash-to-clean-the/) [Gemma Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-malley/) > [The excrement bubbles, the century slime decays, and the brainwashing government lackeys would have us say it's under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/the-excrement-bubbles-the-century-slime-decays-and-the-brainwashing/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) ## More by Sean Durkin > [I'm a believer in film school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/i-m-a-believer-in-film-school/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chanting and singing and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-trappings-of-a-religious-cult-tend-to-fall-into-candlelit/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [I remember being at school during morning meeting and looking around at everybody, 350 kids, saying a prayer. We're all very young and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/i-remember-being-at-school-during-morning-meeting-and-looking-around/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-i-hire-actors-i-believe-in-their-abilities/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [In editing, it's amazing how you choose the in and out points. What you cut on is everything for creating tension. It's amazing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/in-editing-it-s-amazing-how-you-choose-the-in-and-out-points-what-you/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [I always try to keep the confidence of the actors, and try my best to make them feel comfortable or confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/i-always-try-to-keep-the-confidence-of-the-actors-and-try-my-best-to/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [It's sort of one ongoing process where writing ends and directing starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/it-s-sort-of-one-ongoing-process-where-writing-ends-and-directing/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [Well, first of all, making films is a collaborative process. You need people. You need people you trust and love and who are your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/well-first-of-all-making-films-is-a-collaborative-process-you-need/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [When people leave cults, they don't know that they left a cult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-people-leave-cults-they-don-t-know-that-they-left-a-cult/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [I won't rewrite on set, but I'll just trim the fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/i-won-t-rewrite-on-set-but-i-ll-just-trim-the-fat/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [What I learned from directing, I learned from soccer, where it's like a coach-player relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/what-i-learned-from-directing-i-learned-from-soccer-where-it-s-like-a/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [You know, when you're isolated on set for like a month, people like to get rowdy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/you-know-when-you-re-isolated-on-set-for-like-a-month-people-like-to/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [When someone stays with you and they're not your guest, even when they are your guest they get on your nerves. When people visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-someone-stays-with-you-and-they-re-not-your-guest-even-when-they/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [I would like to do a sports movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/i-would-like-to-do-a-sports-movie/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [A big fear of working with an actor that's never been a lead in a film before is that you're going to have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/a-big-fear-of-working-with-an-actor-that-s-never-been-a-lead-in-a/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) [Explore all 28 Sean Durkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) ## More Brainwashing quotes > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. We're all following the will of some unknowable higher power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/sometimes-i-think-i-m-a-nihilist-because-it-doesn-t-matter-none-of/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“But there was nothing beautiful about the word "brainwash". To clean the brain. To strip it bare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-malley/but-there-was-nothing-beautiful-about-the-word-brainwash-to-clean-the/) [Gemma Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-malley/) > [American acculturation is a very powerful form of brainwashing. I know more about it now, but it's very difficult to move away from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-burt/american-acculturation-is-a-very-powerful-form-of-brainwashing-i-know/) [Dan Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-burt/) > [“I don’t care what your excuse is, I don’t care what you think God told you to do, if you are in the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/i-don-t-care-what-your-excuse-is-i-don-t-care-what-you-think-god-told/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [We need to be aware of all different forms of brainwashing and radicalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-ward/we-need-to-be-aware-of-all-different-forms-of-brainwashing-and/) [Clarissa Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-ward/) > [Maybe primitive people have less bullshit to let go of, to give up. A person has to be willing to give up everything—not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/maybe-primitive-people-have-less-bullshit-to-let-go-of-to-give-up-a/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [My family brainwashed me, like I'm brainwashing my children. They brainwashed me with good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madlib/my-family-brainwashed-me-like-i-m-brainwashing-my-children-they/) [Madlib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madlib/) > [“A cult is a group of people who share an obsessive devotion to a person or idea. The cults described in this book use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-smith/a-cult-is-a-group-of-people-who-share-an-obsessive-devotion-to-a/) [Margaret Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-smith/) > [During my training I was trained in Psycho-politics. This was the art of capturing the minds of a nation through brainwashing and fake mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goff/during-my-training-i-was-trained-in-psycho-politics-this-was-the-art/) [Kenneth Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goff/) > [If there is no word that means you don't have the concept. In North Korea they eliminate the words: depression, stress, dictatorship, human rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/if-there-is-no-word-that-means-you-don-t-have-the-concept-in-north/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [It is no coincidence that one cardinal rule in brainwashing is to remove from the victim all photographs of himself and people he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-coleman/it-is-no-coincidence-that-one-cardinal-rule-in-brainwashing-is-to/) [A. D. Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-coleman/) > [Teachers may think they are stuffing minds, but all they are ever affecting is the memory. Nothing can ever be forced into anyone's mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/teachers-may-think-they-are-stuffing-minds-but-all-they-are-ever/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“Terrorism was like heroin – once a lonely, desperate soul was hooked on it, he or she became a fanatic – radicalized they call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/terrorism-was-like-heroin-once-a-lonely-desperate-soul-was-hooked-on/) [Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/) > [The excrement bubbles, the century slime decays, and the brainwashing government lackeys would have us say it's under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/the-excrement-bubbles-the-century-slime-decays-and-the-brainwashing/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) [Browse all 138 Brainwashing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainwashing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sean Durkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and-takes-a-long-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brainwashing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and-takes-a-long-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/sean-durkin-21965_brainwashing_the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and_1053279.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The way brainwashing works is subtle and takes a long time.” — Sean Durkin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sean Durkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The way brainwashing works is subtle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and-takes-a-long-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-way-brainwashing-works-is-subtle-and-takes-a-long-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```