--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The General Staff of an army in the field…" description: "\"“The General Staff of an army in the field is so placed that within wide limits it can control what the public will perceive. It controls the selection..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-general-staff-of-an-army-in-the-fiel_668937.jpg" --- # The General Staff of an army in the field is so placed… ![“The General Staff of an army in the field is so placed that within wide limits it can control what the public will perceive. It controls the selection of correspondents who go to the front, controls their movements at the front, reads and censors their messages from the front, and operates the…” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-general-staff-of-an-army-in-the-fiel_668937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-general-staff-of-an-army-in-the-fiel_668937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-general-staff-of-an-army-in-the-fiel_668937.jpg) > ““The General Staff of an army in the field is so placed that within wide limits it can control what the public will perceive. It controls the selection of correspondents who go to the front, controls their movements at the front, reads and censors their messages from the front, and operates the wires.”” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The military shapes public perception by managing who reports from the front, what they say, and how messages travel. **In simple terms:** Control of war reporting influences public view. Key Takeaway Recognize media control in conflict zones. Themes media propaganda war public perception Mood skeptical critical concerned Type analytical observational When to use this quote - journalists covering wars - government briefings - social media monitoring - public relations campaigns Key Concepts information control censorship strategic communication Questions to Reflect On - How does media control affect democratic oversight? - What mechanisms can ensure truthful war reporting? A Different Perspective Control can be limited by independent journalists and whistleblowers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Control Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-public-3010243/) [Correspondents Controls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondents-controls-5314969/) [General Staff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-staff-666488/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Staff Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staff-army-5314968/) ## Related quotes > [The ultimate power of a successful general staff lies, not in the brilliance of its individual members, but in the cross-fertilisation of its collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reg-revans/the-ultimate-power-of-a-successful-general-staff-lies-not-in-the/) [Reg Revans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reg-revans/) > [We must be part of the general staff at the inception, rather than the ambulance drivers at the bitter end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kirkland/we-must-be-part-of-the-general-staff-at-the-inception-rather-than-the/) [Lane Kirkland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kirkland/) > [The general's staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs. 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In order to conduct propaganda there must be some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/without-some-form-of-censorship-propaganda-in-the-strict-sense-of-the-2/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Without some form of censorship, propaganda in the strict sense of the word is impossible. In order to conduct a propaganda there must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/without-some-form-of-censorship-propaganda-in-the-strict-sense-of-the/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. 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