“Naturally the common people don’t want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. 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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
–Herman Goering at the Nuremberg Trials
Ironic that this quote is from one who specialized in convincing others to take risks he was not willing to face personally. Of course, it also does not imply that the nation is not being attacked or that the people are not in danger either from external or internal threats.
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