Source of Goebbels quotation

[Mannheim]

During the current argy-bargy over climate change (and other things) this alleged quotation of Josef Goebbels has been trotted out in the Australian media:
“It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas and disguise.”
I cannot find a source for this. Goodreads has it as a mis-attributed quote but does not indicate who mis-attributed it or when.
Anybody have a source for this?

[Gorque]

It reads like another version of "Repeat a lie often enough...."

[Max]

The quote in question is a variation of a propaganda technique known as “the big lie,” which Adolf Hitler described in his memoir Mein Kampf as follows:
All this was inspired by the principle – which is quite true in itself – that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes.

This quote is also similar to a phrase that is often attributed (although possibly incorrectly) to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels: “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.”

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donal ... lie-truth/

[Sid Guttridge]

I found it in the following list of Goebbelsisms, none of which are sourced:

Goebbels used to say that "Domination of the street [media] is the first step to state power."

"Propaganda means repetition and more repetition!"

"Repeat it until even the densest has got it."

"Denials must always be categoric."

"Denials alone won't work. You've got to counterattack."

"If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth."

"It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas and disguise."

"The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it."

"The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly -- it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over."

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."

Luckily all this became discredited and died with him in 1945 and democracy is no longer under threat by his like. As a result no US or Russian president, British Prime Minister or Brazilian leader would dare risk using such tactics today. We are all too smart now. They would be called out by right thinking compatriots everywhere and could never possibly gain re-election!

Cheers,

Sid

[ostland]

I love the subtle sarcasm in your closing lines, Sid.

[Gorque]

I love the subtle sarcasm in your closing lines, Sid.

You beat me to it.

Well said Sid!

[Br. James]

I couldn't agree more! Thank you, Sid!!

Br. James