Umberto Eco Quotes

The surest way to keep a secret is to make people believe they already know the answer.

Generally our confidences move downward rather than upward; in our secret affairs, we employ our inferiors much more than our bettors.

If a fox is unable to befriend a tiger, then the fox should create an illusion of close association with the tiger by carefully trailing behind the cat while boasting of the deep friendship they share. In this way, he creates an impression that his well being is of great concern to the tiger.

Sometimes I think that a parody of democracy could be more dangerous than a blatant dictatorship, because that gives people an opportunity to avoid doing anything about it.

The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.

Well, when I was younger, I lied all the time, because once you understand the power of lying, it's really like magic because you transform reality for people.

Young men preen. Old men scheme.

People deal with models like they are children. They think they can pull one over on you. It's actually funny. I'm always like, I'm about to pull something on you, and you're so focused on thinking I'm dumb, you're not even going to know.

By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.

Deceive the rich and powerful if you will, but don't insult them.

When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called "the People's Stick.

Truth is the cry of all, but the game of the few.

All political power is primarily an illusion …. Mirrors and blue smoke …

The primary purpose of the media is to mobilize support for the controlling interests.

How many people live on the reputation of the reputation they might have made!.

Politics is the art of making the people believe that they are in power, when in fact, they have none.

When you think someone really has the upper hand, you realize that someone has been played the entire time, and there's a whole other layer where you think the person who is doing the playing has also been played.

Wrestling isn't real. The falls hurt, sometimes you get punches in the face, but it's not real. It's propaganda. Propaganda makes you the giant and me the small guy. Propaganda makes me the champion and makes you unworthy of a title shot.

Lies are a little fortress; inside them you can feel safe & powerful.

To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praises are not believed by those who pronounce them; for they prove, at least, our power, and show that our favour is valued, since it is purchased by the meanness of falsehood.

Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.

Secrets have power, and that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them.

He had a certain air of being a handsome man-which he was not; and a certain air of being a well-bred man-which he was not. It was mere swagger and challenge; but in this particular, as in many others, blustering assertion goes for proof, half over the world.

A flatterer can risk everything with great personages.

Like the actor, authority has faith in its false whiskers. But its deepest faith is in the human illusion. People will hang on to illusion as eagerly as life itself.