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I Think There Are Two Ways In Which People Are Controlled - First Of All Frighten People And Secondly Demoralize Them.
-Tony Benn
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I Think There Are

Tony Benn
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I Think There Are Two Ways In Which People Are Controlled - First Of All Frighten People And Secondly Demoralize Them.

Understanding the Quote: "i think there are two ways in which people are controlled -..."

This quote by Tony Benn reflects deeply on the theme of thinking. It connects to the universal human journey of purpose, motivation, and reflection. Often categorized under Thinking, Two, People, the quote offers insight, emotional clarity, and intellectual inspiration to readers worldwide.

Whether you’re a student exploring new ideas, a leader trying to motivate your team, or someone seeking direction in life — this quote provides value. It resonates because it’s more than words — it’s a bridge between experience and wisdom. It shows how Tony Benn interprets life's core challenges and triumphs.

Lessons From the Quote

This quote teaches resilience and focus. It reminds readers that no matter where they stand in life, reflection and self-awareness lead to growth. Each word has meaning, and when studied, it becomes clear how impactful thoughtful language can be.

About Tony Benn

Tony Benn is celebrated for insightful thoughts on thinking and two. Their legacy lives on through writings that guide, comfort, and inspire. Discover more on their profile page.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Reflect on how this quote applies to your current life path.
  • Share the message with someone who needs inspiration.
  • Write your thoughts on this quote in a journal or blog post.
  • Use it as a daily affirmation or reminder.

Closing Thoughts

Quotes like this endure because they capture universal truths. They comfort us in solitude and empower us in groups. Carry this quote forward — live by its wisdom, share its message, and keep its essence alive.

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Topic
Thinking
Two
People
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The Way A Government Treats Refugees Is Very Instructive.
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If You Want Your Debt Lifted You've Got To Sell Your School And Your Hospitals.
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Nelson Mandela Was A Terrorist. And Then He Wins The World Peace Prize And Becomes President Of South Africa. That's How Change Happens. It's Very Important Not To Differentiate Protest From The Democratic Process.
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I Was Radicalised By Being A Minister. That's When I Saw How The System Really Worked. And That Is Not A Very Usual Process, But It Certainly Happened To Me: It Gave Me A Lot More Experience, It Helped Me To Understand Where Power Really Lay, Develop Strategies For Undermining Or Changing It, And So On. But That Isn't The Norm. Mr Gladstone Moved To The Left As He Got Older, And One Or Two Other People Have, But Normally You Swing The Other Way.
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The Thought That My Mother Would Suddenly Be A Foreigner Would Upset Me Very Much.
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People
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Party
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Creativity
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Innovation
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Believe
People
Moments
Christians Believe That God Created Man, And Humanists Believe That Man Invented God. But Whichever Way You Look At It, We're Brothers And Sisters. Either We're Brothers And Sisters Because We're Children Of God, Or Because We've Banded Together To Invent God. So The Ethics Of The Humanist And The Ethics Of Some Christians Are Very Similar. And We Don't Want To Create Divisions Between Humanists And Liberation Theologians, Any More Than We Want Between The New Worker And The Trots. It's Not Helpful.
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Brother
Children
The House Of Lords Is The British Outer Mongolia For Retired Politicians.
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Politics
Politician
I Think Mrs Thatcher Did More Damage To Democracy, Equality, Internationalism, Civil Liberties, Freedom In This Country Than Any Other Prime Minister This Century. When The Euphoria Surrounding Her Departure Subsides You Will Find That In A Year Or Two's Time There Will Not Be A Tory Who Admits Ever Supporting Her. People In The Street Will Say, Thank God She's Gone
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If I Rescued A Child From Drowning, The Press Would No Doubt Headline The Story: 'benn Grabs Child
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No Medieval Monarch In The Whole Of British History Ever Had Such Power As Every Modern British Prime Minister Has In His Or Her Hands. Nor Does Any American President Have Power Approaching This
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Thinking
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I Don't Believe In The Hereditary Principle In The House Of Lords. Imagine Going To The Dentist, Sitting In The Chair And He Says, 'i'm Not A Dentist Myself, But My Father Was A Dentist And His Father Before Him. Now, Open Wide!
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House
When I Saw How The European Union Was Developing, It Was Very Obvious What They Had In Mind Was Not Democratic. In Britain, You Vote For A Government So The Government Has To Listen To You, And If You Don't Like It You Can Change It.
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Government
Europe
America Is Now The Dominant Force And The Only Countervailing Force Is Europe.
I've Made Every Mistake - But Mistakes Are How You Learn.
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Making Mistakes
Made
If You Read Mein Kampf, Hitler's Book, Which I Have Outside, I Bought It When I Was Eleven, Hitler Said, "democracy Inevitably Leads To Marxism" - Now You Work That One Out. It's So Interesting That When The Poor Have The Vote They Will Use It To Remove The Privileges Of The Rich.
Book
Interesting
Democracy
Through Talk, We Tamed Kings, Restrained Tyrants, Averted Revolution
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Tyrants
Politics
Well, It All Began With Democracy. Before We Had The Vote All The Power Was In The Hands Of Rich People. If You Had Money You Could Get Health Care, Education, Look After Yourself When You Were Old, And What Democracy Did Was To Give The Poor The Vote And It Moved Power From The Marketplace To The Polling Station, From The Wallet...to The Ballot.
Hands
Giving
People
We Have Been In Recess Since July, And During That Time There Has Been A Fuel Crisis, A Danish No Vote, The Collapse Of The Euro And A War In The Middle East, But What Is Our Business Tomorrow? The Insolvency Bill [lords]. It Ought To Be Called The Bankruptcy Bill [commons], Because We Play No Role.
War
July
Play
If Democracy Is Ever To Be Threatened, It Will Not Be By Revolutionary Groups Burning Government Offices And Occupying The Broadcasting And Newspaper Offices Of The World. It Will Come From Disenchantment, Cynicism And Despair Caused By The Realisation That The New World Order Means We Are All To Be Managed And Not Represented.
Mean
Order
Government
The Tory Party Is The Enemy Of Democracy.
Party
Enemy
Democracy
I Sometimes Wish The Trade Unionists Who Work In The Mass Media, Those Who Are Writers And Broadcasters And Secretaries And Printers And Lift Operators Of Thomson House Would Remember That They Too Are Members Of Our Working Class Movement And Have A Responsibility To See That What Is Said About Us Is True.
Responsibility
Media
Class
I've Got Four Lovely Children, Ten Lovely Grandchildren, And I Left Parliament To Devote More Time To Politics, And I Think That What Is Really Going On In Britain Is A Growing Sense Of Alienation. People Don't Feel Anyone Listens To Them.
Children
Thinking
People
When I Think Of Cool Britannia I Think Of Old People Dying Of Hypothermia.
Witty
Thinking
People
The Establishment Decided Thatcher's Ideas Were Safer With A Strong Blair Government Than With A Weak Major Government. We Are Given All These Personalities To Choose Between To Disguise The Fact That The Policies Are The Same.
Strong
Government
Ideas
Choice Depends On The Freedom To Choose And If You Are Shackled With Debt You Don't Have The Freedom To Choose.
Choices
Debt
Freedom To Choose
Undoubtedly The War With Iraq Was A Tragedy. I Think It Was Also A Crime.
War
Thinking
Iraq
After The War People Said, 'if You Can Plan For War, Why Can't You Plan For Peace?' When I Was 17, I Had A Letter From The Government Saying, 'dear Mr. Benn, Will You Turn Up When You're 17 1/2? We'll Give You Free Food, Free Clothes, Free Training, Free Accommodation, And Two Shillings, Ten Pence A Day To Just Kill Germans.' People Said, Well, If You Can Have Full Employment To Kill People, Why In God's Name Couldn't You Have Full Employment And Good Schools, Good Hospitals, Good Houses?
War
School
Names
There Is No Moral Difference Between A Stealth Bomber And A Suicide Bomber. Both Kill Innocent People For Political Reasons.
Suicide
War
Differences
I Do Not Share The General View That Market Forces Are The Basis For Political Liberty. Every Time I See A Homeless Person Living In A Cardboard Box In London, I See That Person As A Victim Of Market Forces. Everytime I See A Pensioner Who Cannot Manage, I Know That He Is A Victim Of Market Forces
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Political
Liberty
I Opposed The Suez War, I Opposed The Falklands War. I Opposed The Libyan Bombing And I Opposed The Gulf War And I Never Believed That Any Of Those Principled Arguments Lost A Single Vote - Indeed, I Think They Gained Support Though That Was Not Why You Did It. What Has Been Lacking In Labour Politics Over A Long Period Is A Principled Stand
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Thinking
Long
The Labour Party Has Never Been A Socialist Party, Although There Have Always Been Socialists In It - A Bit Like Christians In The Church Of England.
Christian
Party
Church
I Met Somebody Once Who Said, "i'm A Lapsed-atheist" By What He Meant Was, "i Don't Believe In God But The Older I Get The More I Realise There Is A Spirituality In Everybody That Has To Be Cherished And Nourished." That Made A Lot Of Sense To Me.
Believe
Spirituality
Believe In God
A Faith Is Something You Die For; A Doctrine Is Something You Kill For; There Is All The Difference In The World.
Differences
Doctrine
World
We Used To Have A War Office, But Now We Have A Ministry Of Defence, Nuclear Bombs Are Now Described As Deterrents, Innocent Civilians Killed In War Are Now Described As Collateral Damage And Military Incompetence Leading To Us Bombers Killing British Soldiers Is Cosily Described As Friendly Fire. Those Who Are In Favour Of Peace Are Described As Mavericks And Troublemakers, Whereas The Real Militants Are Those Who Want The War.
Peace
Military
Real
Britain Is The Only Colony In The British Empire And It Is Up To Us Now To Liberate Ourselves.
Empires
British
Britain
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