No one is innocent after the experience of governing. But not everyone is guilty.
Daniel Patrick MoynihanRead
If the newspapers of a country are filled with good news, the jails of that country will be filled with good people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good news can influence the moral character of a society, suggesting that positivity can lead to a better community.
This quote by Daniel Patrick Moynihan suggests that the content consumed by society, particularly through newspapers and media, has a profound impact on the collective mindset and behavior of the population. If positive stories dominate the headlines, it may inspire hope, goodness, and ethical behavior among the citizens, thereby leading to lower crime rates and filling jails with fewer individuals who have committed crimes. Essentially, the media plays a significant role in shaping societal values and the overall well-being of a country.
Themes
Good NewsSocietyMediaPositivityMoral CharacterCrime Rate
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community improvement, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of positive media coverage.
More from Daniel Patrick Moynihan
All quotes βWhen a person goes to a country and finds their newspapers filled with nothing but good news, he can bet there are good men in jail.
Daniel Patrick MoynihanRead
You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.
Daniel Patrick MoynihanRead
The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.
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The richest inheritance any child can have is a stable, loving, disciplined family life.
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We must not let ourselves be seen as rushing around the world looking for arguments... Nor should we let ourselves be seen as ignoring allies, disillusioning friends, thinking only of ourselves in the most narrow terms. That is not how we survived the 20th century. Nor will it serve in the 21st.
Daniel Patrick MoynihanRead
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