Without criticism and reliable and intelligent reporting, the government cannot govern. Walter Lippmann More Quotes by Walter Lippmann More Quotes From Walter Lippmann I do not despise genius-indeed, I wish I had a basketful of it. But yet, after a great deal of experience and observation, I have become convinced that industry is a better horse to ride than genius. It may never carry any man as far as genius has carried individuals, but industry-patient, steady, intelligent industry-will carry thousands into comfort, and even celebrity; and this it does with absolute certainty. Walter Lippmann horseintelligentmen For the most part we do not first see, and then define, we define first and then see. In the great blooming, buzzing confusion of the outer world we pick out what our culture has already defined for us, and we tend to perceive that which we have picked out in the form stereotyped for us by our culture. Walter Lippmann bloomingconfusionculture If somebody can create an absolute system of beliefs and rules of conduct that will guide a business man at eleven o'clock in the morning, a boy trying to select a career, a woman in an unhappy love affair--well then, surely no pragmatist will object. He insists only that philosophy shall come down to earth and be tried out there. Walter Lippmann morningphilosophyboys We are concerned in public affairs, but immersed in our private ones. Walter Lippmann public-affairsconcernedaffair Newspapers necessarilyand inevitably reflect, and therefore, in greater or lesser measure, intensify, the defective organization of public opinion. Walter Lippmann public-opinionnewspapersorganization The news is not a mirror of social conditions, but the report of an aspect that has obtruded itself. Walter Lippmann newsmirrorssocial The public interest may be presumed to be what men would choose if they saw clearly, thought rationally, acted disinterestedly and benevolently. Walter Lippmann sawsmaymen It has been the fashion to speak of the conflict between human rights and property rights, and from this it has come to be widely believed that the use of private property is tainted with evil and should not be espoused by rational and civilized men... the only dependable foundation of personal liberty is the personal economic security of private property. The Good Society. Walter Lippmann fashionwisdommen It is not the idea as such which the censor attacks, whether it be heresy or radicalism or obscenity. He attacks the circulation of the idea among the classes which in his judgment are not to be trusted with the idea. Walter Lippmann atheismclassideas A state is absolute in the sense which I have in mind when it claims the right to a monopoly of all the force within the community, to make war, to make peace, to conscript life, to tax, to establish and disestablish property, to define crime, to punish disobedience, to control education, to supervise the family, to regulate personal habits, and to censor opinions. The modern state claims all of these powers, and, in the matter of theory, there is no real difference in the size of the claim between communists, fascists, and Democrats. Walter Lippmann differencesrealwar Creative ideas come to the intuitive person who can face up to the insecurity of looking beyond the obvious. Walter Lippmann insecuritycreativeideas The predominant teachings of this age are that there are no limits to man's capacity to govern others and that, therefore, no limitations ought to be imposed upon government. The older faith, born of long ages of suffering under man's dominion over man, was that the exercise of unlimited power by men with limited minds and self-regarding prejudices is soon oppressive, reactionary, and corrupt. The older faith taught that the very condition of progress was the limitation of power to the capacity and the virtue of rulers. Walter Lippmann teachingexercisemen There is nothing so good for the human soul as the discovery that there are ancient and flourishing civilized societies which have somehow managed to exist for many centuries and are still in being though they have had no help from the traveler in solving their problems. Walter Lippmann souldiscoverytravel I demand from you in the name of your principles the rights which I shall deny to you later in the name of my principles. Walter Lippmann principlesrightsnames The balancing of present wants against the future is really the central problem of ethics. Walter Lippmann ethicsproblemwant When men are brought face to face with their opponents, forced to listen and learn and mend their ideas, they cease to be children and savages and begin to live like civilized men. Then only is freedom a reality, when men may voice their opinions because they must examine their opinions. Walter Lippmann menchildrenreality Even God has been defended with nonsense. Walter Lippmann nonsensehas-beens It was in the recognition that there is in each man a final essence, that is to say an immortal soul which only God can judge, that a limit was set upon the dominion of men over men. Walter Lippmann essencejudgingmen There comes a time when even the reformer is compelled to face the fairly widespread suspicion of the average man that politics is an exhibition in which there is much ado about nothing. Walter Lippmann facesaveragemen The man who raises new issues has always been distasteful to politicians. He musses up what had been so tidily arranged. Walter Lippmann issuespoliticianmen
