Quotation by George Bernard Shaw

The art of manipulating public opinion, which is a necessary art for the democratic politician, and, like other arts, is sometimes practised with greater virtuosity by knaves than by honest men (who are apt to disdain it), has a different technique in different countries. For instance, in England we excel in whitewashing: in America they excel in tarring and feathering. We strain our nerves and stretch our consciences to avoid a scandal: Americans do the same to make one.
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), Anglo-Irish playwright, critic. First published in New Statesman [Britain] (May 10, 1913). "Our Morals and Our Police," Independent Shavian (Fall 1974).
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