The Elite Mindset – Edward Bernays “Blogiquotes”

Considered the “father of public relations” Edward Bernays used concepts discovered by his uncle Sigmund Freud to manipulate the public using the subconscious.

Named by Life Magazine to be in the ‘Top 100 most influential Americans of the 20th century’, he shared fellow elitist Walter Lippmann’s view of the general population by considering it irrational and subject to the “herd instinct”. In his opinion, the masses need to be manipulated by an invisible government to ensure the survival of democracy. This view is very much outlined in the following quotes which are taken from his popular book “Propaganda” from 1928.

1) “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.

We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.

Our invisible governors are, in many cases, unaware of the identity of their fellow members in the inner cabinet.”

2) ”There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realised to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.

Now, what is still more important, the extent to which our thoughts and habits are modified by authorities. In some department of our daily life, in which we imagine ourselves free agents , we are ruled by dictators exercising great power.”

- Edward Bernays, Propaganda

Bernay’s foresight for marketing campaigns profoundly changed the functioning of American society. It has been stated that “consumerism” was a concept of his creation, a culture wherein Americans bought for pleasure instead of buying for survival.

Read Bernay’s “Propaganda” online by following this link.