Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) was an American public intellectual, 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.
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He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconceivable, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.
—Walter Lippmann
For the newspaper is in all literalness the bible of democracy, the book out of which a people determines its conduct. It is the only serious book most people read. It is the only book they read every day.
—Walter Lippmann
Yet this corporate being, though so insubstantial to our senses, binds, in Burkes words, a man to his country with ties which though light as air, are as strong as links of iron. That is why young men die in battle for their countrys sake and why old men plant trees they will never sit under.
—Walter Lippmann
The central drama of our age is how the Western nations and the Asian peoples are to find a tolerable basis of co-existence.
—Walter Lippmann
In the blood of the martyrs to intolerance are the seeds of unbelief.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: One Step at a Time, Doing, Goals
When all think alike, then no one is thinking.
—Walter Lippmann
I generalized rashly: That is what kills political writing, this absurd pretence that you are delivering a great utterance. You never do. You are just a puzzled man making notes about what you think. You are not building the Pantheon, then why act like a graven image? You are drawing sketches in the sand which the sea will wash away.
—Walter Lippmann
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: Wisdom, Audiences
Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: Freedom
Upon the standard to which the wise and honest will now repair it is written: You have lived the easy way; henceforth, you will live the hard way. You came into a great heritage made by the insight and the sweat and the blood of inspired and devoted and courageous men; thoughtlessly and in utmost self-indulgence you have all but squandered this inheritance. Now only by the heroic virtues which made this inheritance can you restore it again. You took the good things for granted. Now you must earn them again. For every right that you cherish, you have a duty which you must fulfill. For every hope that you entertain, you have a task that you must perform. For every good that you wish to preserve, you will have to sacrifice your comfort and your ease. There is nothing for nothing any longer.
—Walter Lippmann
Franklin D. Roosevelt is no crusader. He is no tribune of the people. He is no enemy of entrenched privilege. He is a pleasant man who, without any important qualifications for the office, would very much like to be President.
—Walter Lippmann
Our conscience is not the vessel of eternal verities. It grows with our social life, and a new social condition means a radical change in conscience.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: Conscience
Ignore what a man desires, and you ignore the very source of his power.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: Desires, Desire
No amount of charters, direct primaries, or short ballots will make a democracy out of an illiterate people.
—Walter Lippmann
Topics: Education
If the estimate of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs is correct, then Russia has lost the cold war in western Europe.
—Walter Lippmann
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