I have an old-fashioned belief that Americans like to make up their own minds on the basis of all available information. Edward R. Murrow More Quotes by Edward R. Murrow More Quotes From Edward R. Murrow American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that. Edward R. Murrow simpletruthlying A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. Edward R. Murrow politicalgovernmentsheep When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained. Edward R. Murrow circustvscomplaining We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men ... We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. Edward R. Murrow agehomemen We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. Edward R. Murrow accusationlawremember The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue. Edward R. Murrow communicationliteraturetruth We hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion - a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria. Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude and faith are in alarmingly short supply. Edward R. Murrow hysteriadespairconfusion Your voice, amplified to the degree where it reaches from one end of the country to the other, does not confer upon you greater wisdom than when your voice reached only from one end of the bar to the other. Edward R. Murrow mean-girlsvoicewisdom I simply cannot accept that there are on every story two equal and logical sides to an argument. Edward R. Murrow two-sidesviewsopposites No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices. Edward R. Murrow libertyfreedomliterature We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late. Edward R. Murrow good-luckmediadifferent We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it. Edward R. Murrow teachingwarpeace Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions. Edward R. Murrow problem-solvingobligationmistake To be credible we must be truthful. Edward R. Murrow crediblebeing-truthfultruthful Our history will be what we make of it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge and retribution will not limp in catching up with us. So, just once in a while let us exhault the importance of ideas and information. Edward R. Murrow revengegoes-onideas This instrument [radio] can teach. It can illuminate, yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it's nothing but wires and lights in a box. Edward R. Murrow lighteducationinspire To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful. Edward R. Murrow honestytruthintegrity If none of us ever read a book that was "dangerous," had a friend who was "different," or joined an organization that advocated "change," we would all be the kind of people Joe McCarthy wants. Edward R. Murrow organizationbookpeople One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles. Edward R. Murrow never-settledusttelevision The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. Edward R. Murrow freedomworkphilosophy
