To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
The greatest triumphs of propoganda have been accomplished, not by doing something, but by refraining from doing. Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the power of silence and the impact of withholding action or information.
Aldous Huxley here suggests that the most effective propaganda can come not from overt actions but from the deliberate choice to remain silent. While truth holds significant value, there are situations where avoiding conversation or inaction regarding the truth can have a greater influence on public perception and behavior.
Themes
PropagandaSilenceTruthInactionInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about media influence, one could quote this to illustrate the subtle power of silence in shaping opinions.
More from Aldous Huxley
All quotes →Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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In the course of history many more people have died for their drink and their dope than have died for their religion or their country.
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On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
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No man ever dared to manifest his boredom so insolently as does a Siamese tomcat when he yawns in the face of his amorously importunate wife.
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The leech's kiss, the squid's embrace, The prurient ape's defiling touch: And do you like the human race? No, not much.
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