Walter Lippmann
Walter Lippmann
Walter Lippmann was an American writer, reporter, and political commentator famous for being among the first to introduce the concept of Cold War, coining the term "stereotype" in the modern psychological meaning, and critiquing media and democracy in his newspaper column and several books, most notably his 1922 book Public Opinion. Lippmann was also a notable author for the Council on Foreign Relations, until he had an affair with the editor Hamilton Fish Armstrong's wife, which led to a falling...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionJournalist
Date of Birth23 September 1889
CountryUnited States of America
Only the consciousness of a purpose that is mightier than any man and worthy of all men can fortify and inspirit and compose the souls of men.
Successful ... politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies.
The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully.
Corrupt, stupid grasping functionaries will make at least as big a muddle of socialism as stupid, selfish and acquisitive employers can make of capitalism.
Men fall into a routine when they are tired and slack: it has all the appearance of activity with few of its burdens.
We must remember that in time of war what is said on the enemy's side of the front is always propaganda and what is said on our side of the front is truth and righteousness, the cause of humanity and a crusade for peace.
The present crisis of Western democracy is a crisis in journalism.
When all think alike, then no one is thinking
Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.
Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character.
A large plural society cannot be governed without recognizing that, transcending its plural interests, there is a rational order with a superior common law.
Whenever we accept an idea as authority instead of as instrument, an idol is set up. We worship the plough, and not the fruit.
A really good diplomat does not go in for victories, even when he wins them.
Ours is a problem in which deception has become organized and strong; where truth is poisoned at its source; one in which the skill of the shrewdest brains is devoted to misleading a bewildered people.