Football strategy does not originate in a scrimmage: it is useless to expect solutions in a political campaign.
Walter LippmannRead
The only feeling that anyone can have about an event he does not experience is the feeling aroused by his mental image of that event ... For it is clear enough that under certain conditions men respond as powerfully to fictions as they do to realities.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our perception and imagination can evoke feelings just as strong as actual experiences.
Walter Lippmann emphasizes the power of imagination and perception, suggesting that the emotions we feel about events we haven't personally experienced can be just as intense as those tied to actual events. This highlights the role of mental imagery and fiction in shaping our emotions and responses, showing that our understanding of reality is often mediated by our thoughts and beliefs.
Themes
ImaginationPerceptionEmotionRealityExperience
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about how media influences our opinions, one could reference this quote to illustrate the impact of fictional narratives.
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The private citizen, beset by partisan appeals for the loan of his Public Opinion, will soon see, perhaps, that these appeals are not a compliment to his intelligence, but an imposition on his good nature and an insult to his sense of evidence.
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