Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover, (1874-1964), 31st US President

Herbert Hoover Quote

“Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of 'emergency'. It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini. In the collectivist sweep over a dozen minor countries of Europe, it was the cry of men striving to get on horseback. And 'emergency' became the justification of the subsequent steps. This technique of creating emergency is the greatest achievement that demagoguery attains.”

Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover
~ Herbert Hoover


Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Even considering the source its true.

Robert, Sarasota

Mike, I couldn't agree with you more, re; the souce and the quote. Yet, we are blind to this very act taking place today.

Michael, Houston, TX

I agree too...as long as we realize there are such things as real emergencies that may well demand actions that would not be taken otherwise. We must carefully discern a real emergency from a contrived one. So, I guess the 2 questions for today are1) Is the war on terror real with real killers living among us, and 2) is the earth really going to die next month because I started my SUV this morning? Be careful. There are those who believe both and are willing to go to war over these emergencies.

Joe, Rochester, MI

Terrorism is today's 'emergency'.

Michael, Houston, TX

(good for you Joe!)

E Archer, NYC

Perhaps we should also look at how we respond to emergencies. In America, we respond to emergencies by declaring 'war' -- war on drugs, war on terror, the war on guns. If the proposed solution is 'war' then I suggest that this is one of those bogus emergencies. Real emergencies are staring you right in the face -- and people don't need external authorities to beat the drums day after day after day until we all scream in unison, "bomb 'em, bomb 'em". What if 'war' was the solution for paramedics when dealing with a real emergency? Doesn't really work, does it...

Michael, Indian Shores, FL

Terrorism is an inigma perfect for the propagation of fear to control the world. The war on drugs was a dry run, the perfect pawn, just look at it's benefactors and never ending supply of criminals, almost at will. The Patriot act and homeland security is the tip of the iceberg, we are all ~ enemies of the state!

Michael, Houston, TX

HI E Archer... I agree...sort of. The misuse of the term war apparently makes it difficult for some people to recognize a real one....and to confuse it with an emergency. For example, there is no connnection at all with how a paramedic would deal with an accident, when compared, with how a nation should deal with someone who is dedicated to slitting its citizen's throats. Well said indeed.

Jason, Portland, OR

Too bad there aren't any more "Hoover" democrats that could slow our slide into Socialism under this Congress and Administration.

Mike, Norwalk

Hey, never waste a good crisis. Now we've got a Kenyan, riding a Trojan horse, using the tactics from his European hero's technique books to sweep over the last vestiges of a long forgotten Constitution.

J. B. Wulff, Bristol

Hoover has long been held responsible for the Great Depression. As time has passed we have learned that this was not true, but the tarnish has not been removed. His fault was that he was an engineer by training. You can not bring that discipline to the realm of politics and get a good result. Jimmy Carter may have had the same flaw, but I digress. I believe our current CIC is looking for a horse. God! Please help us!

Waffler, Smith

Some think that the great emergency now is to STOP OBAMA. or that "Obama must fail". I agree with quote, sometimes we need to just relax and think things over. Hitler rose to power on the emergency of confronting the new world order of communist internationalism. I give it only a two because the use of emergency to promote action and energy can be used by anyone from any political or issue perspective.

J Carlton, Calgary

I'll keep my guns, my freedom and my money, the Obamunists can keep the change. Talk to your friends and neighbors, let them know where the real emergency lies.

Waffler, Smith

Thanks for proving my point Carlton. See even you cannot operate or think without first creating an emergency.

J Carlton, Calgary

Don't be alarmed, Waffler, it's not an emergency, just business as usual and a natural way of life that is being threatened by the "false flag" alarmists....there's a major difference and I still don't see your point.

jim k, austin

Governments use fear to control the people and ours is no different. Terrorism is a great example, but there are many others.Control freaks are everywhere wanting to manage your life. Sugar is "bad" so they want to tax soft drinks. Can't let you eat popcorn in the movies, it has coconut oil on it. Those nasty old trans-fats are bad so we have to ban those. Your SUV is causing the seas to rise so get a bicycle to ride to work. The "big nanny" in D.C. will protect you from yourself. Eat your veggies. Obama , Nancy, Barney, Algore and the gang know what's best for you so pay attention.

Terry Alan Wade, Medford Lakes

Sounds like this could become the Obama Creed. I'm hopin' against hope that its not.

warren, olathe

Obama is more frightening each day. It may be too late to stop the destruction and by the time he is done it is likely to be impossible to repair. It is baffling how we elected a hate America fascist for a president. It is only possible because of the years of leftist control of the education system in this country. I include the media in the education system.

Anon
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Anon    5/13/09

Shock and awe is what it's called and it works like a charm as the victims cry out for justice that preps them for whatever the government wants to call justice.

Anon
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    Anon    5/13/09

    "Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear -­ kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervour -­ with the cry of grave national emergency. Always, there has been some terrible evil at home, or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it."----- General Douglas MacArthur

    Waffler, Smith

    My point Carlton is that not only do "collectivists" ride on a Trojan horse so do others, like environmentalists and non-environmentalists, right wingers and left wingers etcetera. Bottom line Hoover in this quote is full of B.S.

    zeitgeist, la crescenta, ca

    Talk about "emergency." That's the same tactic the government used when dealing with the monetary crisis we're supposed to be in now. Wasn't too long ago the elected officials in Washiongton didn't even read the bill that passed in Congress regarding all the trillions of dollars necessary to "save" the economy. There wasn't enough time! The emergency was too great! We were only days from total breakdown! How soon these details are forgotten by the public. Statistically, its been found that peolpe have but a six week memory for things political. Be aware, the next emergency is being formulated as we write. As an aside, it's sometimes unusual where good quotes can be found.

    J Carlton, Calgary

    Like I said Waffler, its just business as usual and a natural way of life. Now that Homeland Security has labeled everyone who might not agree with their communist agenda,a right wing extremist, I guess every American patriotic to the country's principles must be a wing nut eh? Now that's Bullshit! Hell they've even put veterans returning from overseas on their hit list...and you don't see a problem with any of this?

    warren, olathe

    Waffler will never see any problem with anything Obama does.

    kimo, USA
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    kimo, USA    9/16/11

    If y'all are not aware, be so now, notice the weapons find at the NORTH side of the Rio Grande? Weapons are coming IN, I wonder why.........cartel my azz..try MB.. we are aware, we are ready, if need be, to defend our country. Many are past afraid, and to the pissed off point. There are many heroes, and we must not disregard them, we must stay alert, and alive. Waffler, yep, we are hyper aware . And, what about the train wrecks?? and other 'accidents' fires..and such....I'm no conspiracy guy, BUT, I get more and more e mails, containing info, that leads me and others to one conclusion, someone, is getting ready for a fight. Waffler, most Americans are armed, that does not mean we are not responsible, it means we have the means to protect ourselves. Our birth right, that they cannot and will not take away, not in the next 20 years anyway, especially, not now. Again, I feel sorry for our friends in England, and the Aussies, they gave up that right, now, they damn sure wish they didn't, I have an idea, all you Brits, come to America, I'm sure all of you can get a sponsor, and we would welcome you, as bros. Baseball bats and knives don't do well against guns.

    J Allen, Arlington, VA

    Sounds alot like "don't let a crisis go to waste" "need to pass it to find out what's in it" Or more recently with his jobs bill, is must pass it now, even before it has been presented. This administration learned well from Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini

    jim k, Austin, Tx

    It makes you wonder what sort of "emergency" Obama will dream up right before election time in 2012.

    Ronw13, Yachats OR

    The Trojan Horse, much bigger now in 2015. a global crisis ?
    Well funded, in concert. 2016 ? Zealous for security sake ? Creative destruction of all we hold dear. Liberty and Freedom. Even considering the source of the quote !

    Logan W, Austin, TX

    This could not be more true than in today's society. Scary how people just believe whatever the government tells them. 

    011220-4256, Commieville

    I hope people are waking up now.

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