Famous quote by Wendell Phillips

Mobile Desktop
Let me make the newspapers, and I care not what is preached in the pulpit or what is enacted in Congress
Like

"Let me make the newspapers, and I care not what is preached in the pulpit or what is enacted in Congress"

- Wendell Phillips

About this Quote

Wendell Phillips, a prominent 19th-century abolitionist and orator, made this statement to underscore the enormous power and impact of journalism in shaping popular opinion and societal norms. At its core, the quote highlights the pivotal role of media in modern society and suggests that its reach and effect can go beyond that of spiritual preachings or legislative actions.

Phillips' mention of "the newspapers" symbolizes journalism as a main vehicle for disseminating info, forming public discourse, and affecting the collective frame of mind of a society. During Phillips' time, the newspaper was the most instant and extensive methods of communication, similar to tv and social media today. By stating, "Let me make the papers," Phillips suggests that control over the narrative and information flow allows one to wield significant power over popular opinion and societal worths.

The next part of the quote, "and I care not what is preached in the pulpit or what is enacted in Congress," recommends that the influence of media is so profound that it can eclipse the ethical assistance supplied by religious leaders ("preached in the pulpit") and the legislative decisions made by political bodies ("enacted in Congress"). This suggests a belief that the press can form understandings and beliefs better than organizations generally viewed as moral and reliable.

Phillips' quote is a precursor to modern conversations about media power, showing concerns about how details is managed and the potential for media to sway public opinion. The statement serves as an ageless pointer of the requirement for accountable journalism and the possible repercussions when media focuses on sensationalism over truth. It likewise calls attention to the duty of customers to seriously examine the details they consume and know the predispositions and intents behind the sources. This insight into the nature of media impact remains extremely relevant in today's digital age, where details quickly proliferates throughout multiple platforms.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Wendell Phillips between November 29, 1811 and February 2, 1884. He/she was a famous Activist from USA. The author also have 32 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send o
Thomas Jefferson
"If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?"
Thomas Jefferson, President
Small: We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but
Abraham Lincoln
"We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution"
Abraham Lincoln, President
Small: They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men
Clare Boothe Luce
"They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men"
Clare Boothe Luce, Dramatist
Small: The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the publi
"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money"
Alexis de Tocqueville, Historian
Small: There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress - Mark Twain
Mark Twain
"There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress"
Mark Twain, Author
Small: I am sorry to say that sometimes matters of very small importance waste a good deal of precious time, by the l
"I am sorry to say that sometimes matters of very small importance waste a good deal of precious time, by the long and repeated speeches and chicanery of gentlemen who will not wholly throw off the lawyer even in Congress"
William Whipple, Politician
Small: I dont mind what Congress does, as long as they dont do it in the streets and frighten the horses - Victor Hug
Victor Hugo
"I don't mind what Congress does, as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses"
Victor Hugo, Author
Small: I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US
Ronald Reagan
"I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress"
Ronald Reagan, President
Small: I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to
"I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to abide the judgment the sober second thought of the people"
Rutherford B. Hayes, President
Small: And whether it is equal pay, health care, Social Security, or family leave, this Congress has refused to addre
"And whether it is equal pay, health care, Social Security, or family leave, this Congress has refused to address issues critical to hard-working American women"
Louise Slaughter, Politician