Oswald Spengler Quotes

Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality; he recognized the enormous psychological value of having the law on his side. Instead, he turned the law inside out and made illegality legal.

The thing that is always so surprising about plays written in another century is how remarkably elastic they are. When you listen to the way in which Shakespeare attacks relationships, for example, even though the words may start off sounding foreign, in actuality they are so accessible, the motivations so clear, the resonances so contemporary. When you put it in a modern context - we could well be in a place with someone like Gaddafi or Mubarak - it becomes apparent how Richard III resonates with that type of personality, with media and manipulation, alliances and petty jealousies.

Remember that anybody who is clever enough to set you free is clever enough to enslave you.

All it takes is one generation to brainwash a population and convince them that reality doesn't exist

The view of life as a struggle for power generates a language in which life has no significance and only power matters.

The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master.

Tell the people what they want and decide what they need.

I am trying to be as impartial as possible. As you can tell from the trailers for Mad Men, I am a person who believes that you should know nothing.

What assurance have we that our masters will or can keep the promise which induced us to sell ourselves? Let us not be deceived by phrases about 'Man taking charge of his own destiny'. All that can really happen is that some men will take charge of the destiny of the others. They will be simply men; none perfect; some greedy, cruel and dishonest. The more completely we are planned the more powerful they will be. Have we discovered some new reason why, this time, power should not corrupt as it has done before?

Arriane sized her up, tapping one finger against her lips. "Perfect," she said, stepping forward to loop her arm through Luce's. "I was just thinking I could really use a new slave.

Of course. Opal is toying with our emotions for her own gratification. Nothing more. She wishes to place herself in a position of power, emotionally.

All you have to do is go back to slavery - days, and there were two types of slaves, the house slave and the field slave. The house slave was the one who believed in the master, who had confidence in the master and usually was very friendly with the master. And usually he was also used by the master to try and keep the other slaves pacified.

I can frighten or buy ninety-nine out of every one hundred men.

From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

I'm tempting you with fine gifts until your girlish ideals are quite worn away and you are at my mercy.

... motivating people, forcing them to your will, gives you a cynical attitude toward humanity. It degrades everything it touches.

Never be put off by your target's anger; it is a sure sign of enslavement.

Small souls who seek power over others first destroy the faith those others might have in themselves.

Man alone can enslave man.

Sex, drugs, money, power etc. Just because you get to choose your master doesn't mean you aren't a slave.

The extreme nature of dominant-end views is often concealed by the vagueness and ambiguity of the end proposed.

I would rather you love me, but if not love, fear will do.

I don't want to name names because I don't want to draw too many direct comparisons but the history of Fascism is populated by people who need to subjugate other people and elevate their status and power to a level which is supreme. Usually, any psychological study of those people will reveal a sort of lost, damaged child, who is somehow heartbroken and doesn't have any self-worth.

You keep folks so intimidated. You can give them money, access, but they're still scared. And as long as you're scared, you're on the plantation.