What luck for rulers that men do not think.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
(Attributed)
Quotations by:
Hitler, Adolph
The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
(Attributed)
All this was inspired by the principle — which is quite true in itself — that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Mein Kampf [My Struggle], Vol. 1, ch. 10 (1925)
It would never come into their [the masses’] heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Mein Kampf [My Struggle], Vol. 1, ch. 10 (1925)
By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell — and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Mein Kampf
In the view of the primitive simplicity of their minds, [the masses] more easily fall a victim to a big lie than to a little one.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Mein Kampf, 1.10 (1924) [tr. Manheim (1943)]
The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Mein Kampf, 1.6 (1924) [tr. Manheim (1943)]
Universal education is the most corroding and disintegrating poison that liberalism has ever invented for its own destruction.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
The Voice of Destruction: Hitler Speaks (quoted)
I recognize no moral law in politics. Politics is a game, in which every sort of trick is permissible, and in which the rules are constantly being changed by the players to suit themselves.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Remark to the author (1932-34), in Hermann Rauschning, The Voice of Destruction, ch. 19 (1940)
Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Speech (26 Apr 1933)
Made during negotiations toward the Nazi-Vatican Concordant of 1933.
I believe that Providence would never have allowed us to see the victory of the Movement if it had the intention after all to destroy us at the end.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Speech, Munich (8 Nov 1933)
Terror is the most effective political instrument. I shall not permit myself to be robbed of it simply because a lot of stupid, bourgeois mollycoddles choose to be offended by it.
Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) German leader
Table talk (1933)
Quoted in Hermann Rauschning, The Voice of Destruction, ch. 6 (1940). Note: I don't actually wish I'd said this, but it's a useful quotation for those who similarly think torture and terror are legitimate political tools to consider who their bedfellow is.