Who said “The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful…”?

Verified

Eric Hoffer. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955)

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“The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.”
— Eric Hoffer
VerifiedThe Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955) · evidencePersuasion

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955).

APA

Hoffer, E. (n.d.). The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27906-the-real-persuaders-are-our-appetites-our-fears/

MLA

Hoffer, Eric. “The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27906-the-real-persuaders-are-our-appetites-our-fears/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hoffer, Eric. “The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27906-the-real-persuaders-are-our-appetites-our-fears/.

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