Mastodawn

By “nationalism” I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled “good” or “bad.” But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

More about this quote: wist.info/orwell-george/16966/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #orwell #georgeorwell #civicduty #classification #devotion #duty #evil #good #goodandevil #ingroup #jingoism #moralduty #nation #nationalism #nationality #outgroup #population #racism #stereotype #tribalism #usvsthem

Orwell, George - Essay (1945-05), "Notes on Nationalism," Polemic Magazine (1945-10) | WIST Quotations

By "nationalism" I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled "good" or "bad." But secondly -- and this is much more important -- I mean…

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Mar 2

A quotation from James Randi

The first thing a cult does is tell you everyone else is lying.

James Randi (1928-2020) Canadian-American stage magician ("The Amazing Randi") and scientific skeptic. [b. Randall James Hamilton Zwinge]
(Attributed)

More about this quote: wist.info/randi-james/82442/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #jamesrandi #cult #divinetruth #mistrust #onetrueway #others #outsiders #truebelievers #trust #usvsthem

Randi, James - (Attributed) | WIST Quotations

The first thing a cult does is tell you everyone else is lying. Very widely quoted and attributed to Randi. I cannot, however, find any evidence showing Randi actually said this, though it is plausible.

WIST Quotations

kat donegan 🇵🇸✊Feb 17

'we got the numbers. we're gonna' fight so they can't fuck us. we got rights & we want justice, so we're gonna fight!'
#usVsThem #music #metal #hiphop
https://soundcloud.com/usvsthemofficial/frontlines

Front Lines

An anthem for the many against the few. Always us, never them.

SoundCloud

bikejourno Nov 4

Always keep this in mind:

#Cheney was a key architect of 2001's #PatriotAct that radically shifted the balance between state and #citizens in terms of #privacy.
Cheney was a key architect of the #usvsthem populist nonsense that further deepened societal #division.
You do not get a nickname such as #DarthVader without being a profoundly evil actor.

Cheney helped build the same slippery slope that #democracy and the #ruleoflaw find themselves on in 2025 in the #UnitedStates. #civicrights

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Oct 31

A quotation from Orwell

But what impressed me then, and has impressed me ever since, is that atrocities are believed in or disbelieved in solely on grounds of political predilection. Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1942-08), “Looking Back on the Spanish War, ch. 2, New Road (1943-06)

More info about this quote: wist.info/orwell-george/80109/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgeorwell #orwell #spanishcivilwar #atrocities #belief #partisanship #politics #propaganda #tribalism #warcrimes #usvsthem #usversusthem

Steve Dustcircle 🌹Sep 28

#Evangelical #Christianity Breeds an #USvsTHEM Mentality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYsScs6hurE

#religion #sundayschool #christian #cults

Evangelical Christianity Breeds an US vs THEM Mentality

YouTube

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jul 15, 2025

A quotation from Mohamad Safa

Our world is not divided by race, color, gender, or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race, color, gender, or religion.

Mohamad Safa (b. 1991) Lebanese diplomat, politician
Facebook (2020-08-06)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/safa-mohamad/77686/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #disunity #division #othering #racism #sectarianism #sexism #tribalism #usvsthem

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jul 8, 2025

A quotation from Bill Watterson

   CALVIN: I’m writing a fund-raising letter. The secret to getting donations is to depict everyone who disagrees with you as the enemy. Then you explain how they’re systematically working to destroy everything you hold dear. It’s a War of Values! Rational discussion is hopeless! Compromise is unthinkable! Our only hope is well-funded antagonism, so we need your money to keep up the fight!
   HOBBES: How cynically unconstructive.
   CALVIN: Enmity sells.

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1995-07-07)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/watterson-bill/77538…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #billwatterson #calvinandhobbes #anger #antagonism #compromise #culturewar #demagoguery #demonization #donations #enmity #fundraising #hatred #politicalmovement #politicalpower #politicalpressure #politics #usvsthem #values