 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Most political leaders acquire their position by causing large numbers of people to believe that these leaders are actuated by altruistic desires. It is well understood that such a belief is more readily accepted under the influence of excitement. Brass bands, mob oratory, lynching, and war, are stages in the development of the excitement. I suppose the advocates of unreason think that there is a better chance of profitably deceiving the populace if they keep it in a state of effervescence.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, preface.
More info.:https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-PREF-02.HTM#r366-c243
* a brief comment: original text in Japanese, translated with DeepL.com (free version)
As Taro Aso once said, "You can imitate the Nazi modus operandi". There are so many ways to do it, from bidding for the Olympics and Expo, to stoking fears of invasion by a hypothetical enemy country, and so on, that many of the people fall for the trick. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that this was the case before World War II, but it is unlikely that it has become less common after the war as people have become wiser. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)