Godwin’s Law

Identify the following quotes:

1. “The broad mass of the nation … will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one.”
2. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
3. “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

1. Adolf Hitler, in his 1925 book Mein Kampf
2. Attributed to Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels
3. Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering, before committing suicide at the Nuremberg Trials

Godwin’s law holds that “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.” It is commonly mis-stated as something approaching the following: “If you bring up nazis or hitler, you’ve lost the argument.”

In order to ensure that there is no argument to lose, I present this entry with no context other than this passing reference to the government of our neighbours to the south.

Source of quotes and Godwin’s Law.

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› normative     2006-04-04 23:55   ...0