The fact of knowing how to read is nothing, the whole point is knowing what to read. Jacques Ellul More Quotes by Jacques Ellul More Quotes From Jacques Ellul The will of the world is always a will to death, a will to suicide. We must not accept this suicide, and we must so act that it cannot take place. Jacques Ellul accepting suicide world Am I a pessimist? Not at all. I am convinced that the history of the human race, no matter how tragic, will ultimately lead to the Kingdom of God. I am convinced that all the works of humankind will be reintegrated in the work of God, and that each of us, no matter how sinful, will ultimately be saved. Jacques Ellul race kingdoms matter Technique has taken over the whole of civilization. Death, procreation, birth all submit to technical efficiency and systemization. Jacques Ellul technique taken civilization Again I want to emphasize that the study of propaganda must be conducted within the context of a technological society. Propaganda is called upon to solve problems created by technology, to play on maladjustments, and to integrate the individual into a technological world. Jacques Ellul technology play world (Propaganda) proceeds by psychological manipulations, character modifications, by creation of stereotypes useful when the time comes - The two great routes that this sub-propaganda takes are the conditioned reflex and the myth Jacques Ellul manipulation character two The intellectual who wants to do her work properly must today go back to the starting point: the woman whom she knows, and first of all to herself. It is at that level, and at no other, that she ought to begin to think about the world situation. Jacques Ellul intellectual world thinking Almost always, it is the conviction that 'I am right' or 'my cause is the cause of justice' that triggers violence. That is, ...the moment propaganda does its work, violence is unleashed. And violence can be reduced by countering this propaganda. Jacques Ellul violence doe justice Propaganda must not concern itself with what is best in man - the highest goals humanity sets for itself, its noblest and most precious feelings. Propaganda does not aim to elevate man, but to make him serve. It must therefore utilize the most common feelings, the most widespread ideas, the crudest patterns, and in so doing place itself on a very low level with regard to what it wants man to do and to what end. Hate, hunger, and pride make better levers of propaganda than do love or impartiality. Jacques Ellul hate pride men It was with the Industrial Revolution, as society plunged ever more eagerly into the conquest of material riches and bent all its energies to the accumulation of goods, that material poverty became a major problem. Obviously, this meant abandonment or downgrading of spiritual values, virtue, etc. To share or not to share in the increase of the collective wealth-this was the Number One question. It was the desire to acquire wealth that prompted the poor to start fighting. Jacques Ellul fighting spiritual numbers For in a civilization which has lost the meaning of life, the most important thing a Christian can do is to live, and life, understood from the point of view of faith, has an extraordinary explosive force. Jacques Ellul prayer christian views True technique will know how to maintain the illusion of liberty, choice, and individuality; but these will have been carefully calculated so that they will be integrated into the mathematical reality merely as appearances! Jacques Ellul individuality choices reality It is the multiplication of men who are exluded from working which provokes war. We ought at least to bear this in mind when we boast of the continual decrease in human participation in technical operations. Jacques Ellul technology men war The machine is a tool. But it is not a neutral tool. We are deeply influenced by the machine while using it. Jacques Ellul machines tools There is one act par excellence which profanes money by going directly against the law of money, an act for which money is not made. That act is giving. Jacques Ellul excellence law giving Propaganda begins when dialogue ends. Jacques Ellul propaganda dialogue ends Propaganda does not aim to elevate man, but to make him serve. Jacques Ellul propaganda doe men Prayer holds together the shattered fragments of creation. It makes history possible. Jacques Ellul creation prayer together It is not true that the perfection of police power is the result of the state's Machiavellianism or of some transitory influence. The whole structure of society implies it, of necessity. The more we mobilize the forces of nature, the more must we mobilize men and the more do we require order. Jacques Ellul perfection men order Everyone has been taught that technique is an application of science.... This traditional view is radically false. It takes into account only a single category of science and only a short period of time Jacques Ellul taught technique views Our civilization is first and foremost a civilization of means; in the reality of modern life, the means, it would seem, are more important than the ends. Jacques Ellul civilization mean reality
