Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

Walter Lippmann Writer

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: United States
  • Born: Sep 23, 1889
  • Died: Dec 14, 1974

Walter Lippmann was an American writer, reporter, and political commentator famous for being among the first to introduce the concept of Cold War, coining the term "stereotype" in the modern psychological meaning, and critiquing media and democracy in his newspaper column and several books, most notably his 1922 book Public Opinion. His views regarding the role of journalism in a democracy were contrasted with the contemporaneous writings of John Dewey in what has been retrospectively named the Lippmann-Dewey debate. Lippmann won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his syndicated newspaper column "Today and Tomorrow" and one for his 1961 interview of Nikita Khruschev.

In a free society the state does not administer the affairs of men. It administers justice among men who conduct their own affairs. men & society

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. music & wisdom

Where all men think alike, no one thinks very much. men

The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. business

Private property was the original source of freedom. It still is its main ballpark. freedom

The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully. business

Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort it brings. freedom

It is perfectly true that that government is best which governs least. It is equally true that that government is best which provides most. government