Glittering generalities are emotionally appealing words so closely associated with highly valued concepts and beliefs that they carry conviction without supporting information or reason. They appeal to such emotions such as as love of country, home; desire for peace, freedom, glory, honor, etc. They ask for approval without examination of the reason. They are a typically used by politicians and propagandists. Look up Politics on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Politics (disambiguation) Democracy History of democracy List of democracy and elections-related topics List of years in politics List of politics by country articles Political corruption Political economy Political movement Political parties of the world Political party Political psychology Political sociology Political... This article is about the type of communication. ...

A glittering generality has two qualities:

1. It is vague
2. It has positive connotations

Words like "strength," "democracy,", "patriotism", and "freedom" are terms that people have powerful associations with, and people may have trouble disagreeing with them. It is as if to say, who could argue against "freedom"? However, these words are highly abstract, and meaningful differences exist regarding what they actually mean or should mean in the real world. For instance, while few may argue against "freedom", how it is judged what exactly "freedom" is or should be in a given scenario may be completely contradictory between different people. Ambiguity is one way in which the meanings of words and phrases can be unclear, but there is another way, which is different from ambiguity: vagueness. ... In logic and in some branches of semantics, connotation is more or less synonymous with intension. ... Jump to: navigation, search Defense of the homeland is a commonplace of military patriotism: commemorating the students at the École Polytechnique, Paris, 1814 Patriotism denotes positive attitudes by a person to their own nation, to its national homeland, its culture, its members, and to its interests. ... Jump to: navigation, search Personal liberty is one of the meanings of freedom. Freedom refers, in a very general sense, to the state of being free (i. ... Association is the following: A voluntary association (also sometimes called an association) is a group of individuals who voluntarily enter into an agreement, explicit or implicit, to form or act as a body (or organization) to accomplish a purpose. ... Jump to: navigation, search Broadly speaking, a contradiction is an incompatibility between two or more statements, ideas, or actions. ...

Some examples

• "I believe in an America that's strong at home and respected in the world. I believe we can have a strong economy focused on good-paying jobs, a health care plan that reduces costs, an energy plan that frees us from Mideast oil, and I believe we can lead a strong military and strong alliances that keep America safe and secure." -- John Kerry

• "It's really a difference about who do you trust, if you really think about it. Do you trust a social entrepreneur on the ground, or do you trust a planner in a faraway capital. And I think you'll find that these initiatives I've talked about, and the spirit that you've just defined, is now kind of the attitude in Washington. And that's important. That really is important. If we say what matters is whether or not lives are being saved, you figure out how to do it, you'll find that the entrepreneurial spirit at the social level will be much more invigorated and much more alive. The energy level will be tremendous at the grassroots level. And that's really the job of government, is to set the strategy and the goals and get out of the way." -- George W. Bush

The term may have originated with the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Jump to: navigation, search John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts. ... Jump to: navigation, search George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former Governor of the State of Texas. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Founding and Purpose The Institute for Propaganda Analysis was a U.S.-based organization composed of social scientists, opinion leaders, historians, educators, and journalists. ...

An example in modern political discourse: "hardworking families"

An example of a glittering generality in contemporary political discourse is the phrase "hardworking families", or "working families," which is used in the politics of the United Kingdom and of the United States, and which was heavily used by the political parties in the campaign of the United Kingdom general election, 2005. Emerging from some British newspapers around 1995, the first explicit analysis of the phrase in a mainstream media was done by the BBC in 2005: "Who are 'Britain's hardworking families'?". Jump to: navigation, search The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. ... The governing Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, was looking to secure a third consecutive term in office and to retain a large majority. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• It has the positive connotations of its direct meaning, of "families that work hard" or "families whose members work hard" (cf. the Protestant work ethic), whilst leaving the exact meaning to the listener.
• It means different things to different people, connoting different sectors of society according to the politicial bias of the listener. (To a listener with a right-wing bias a "hardworking family" would be a family that was not one comprising feckless benefit recipients; whereas to a listener with a left-wing bias a "hardworking family" would be a family that was not one with unearned income, i.e. often a member of a more struggling socio-economic rung.)
• Politicians use the phrase in a vague manner, with the intent that the listeners, by dint of the positive connotations, perceive the politician to be referring to them; and with the intent that listeners agree that anything to the benefit of "hardworking families" is inarguably right and anything to the detriment of "hardworking families" is inarguably wrong.

For example: In debates on tax policy or public services, the contending parties (usually the Labour Party and the Conservative Party), may both propose to lower taxes and provide services for "hardworking families", expecting the listeners to infer that they are amongst the hardworking families who will gain from voting for the relevant party, and to agree that it is inarguably right for "hardworking families" to benefit from lower taxes and increased services. Jump to: navigation, search The Protestant work ethic — also known as the Puritan work ethic — is a biblically based teaching on the necessity of hard work, perfection and the goodness of labor. ... For the song by the California punk band Pennywise, see Society (song). ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... For use in social policy, see the article social welfare. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... Jump to: navigation, search A tax is a compulsory charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e. ... Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Labour Party is the principal centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... Jump to: navigation, search The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the centre-right in the United Kingdom. ...

Quotations

Some examples of politicians using (or being reported as using) the phrase:

• "She (Baroness Mallalieu) said the protesters wanted to show it was "hardworking families" which would be hit by a hunting ban." — BBC News, 2004-09-28 ("Pro-hunt demo at Labour gathering")
• "Turning to tax allowances, the married couples' allowance has been abolished, which is a strange move for a government who profess to support the family. They have abolished the MIRAS tax relief which has hit home-buyers. The change to the allowances for couples with children--the new children's tax credit--which is tapered away for higher rate taxpayers, will affect hardworking families on middle incomes." — Lord Northbrook recorded in Hansard, 1999-07-23 (column 1229)
• "Sometimes hard working families need a little help" — the title of a monthly half hour television series produced by the Maryland Department of Human Resources and Maryland Public Television
• "A Conservative government will give hope to hardworking families – decent people who respect others, who take responsibility for their children and who contribute to their local communities." — Michael Howard speaking in Telford on 2005-04-10 ("It's time to set an annual limit to immigration")
• "Then, it was mortgage rates at 15 per cent for a whole year with 1.5 million households suffering negative equity and over 250,000 families losing their homes—now, hardworking families are enjoying the lowest mortgage rates for 40 years. Then, it was 400,000 more on hospital waiting lists—now, it is almost 300,000 off. Then, it was crime doubled—now, it’s crime down by over a quarter." — Alan Milburn in Agenda: magazine of the Association of Labour Councillors, winter 2004/5 ("Britain is Working")
• "WASHINGTON VERSUS HARD-WORKING AMERICAN FAMILIES" — Frank Luntz Republican Playbook at PoliticalStrategy.ORG ("The Budget: Ending Wasteful Washington Spending")

Sometimes the use of the phrase by politicians is echoed in media reports on political events, or indeed the news medium itself employs the phrase as part of its own editorializing, in the expectation that its readers will infer that it is referring to them: Ann Mallalieu, Baroness Mallalieu (born November 27, 1945) is a British lawyer, Labour Party politician and president of the Countryside Alliance. ... Jump to: navigation, search The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs (sometimes abbreviated BBC NCA) is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations news gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search September 28 is the 271st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (272nd in leap years). ... Hansard is the traditional name for the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1999(MCMXCIX) is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Jump to: navigation, search July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Other U.S. States Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Senators Paul Sarbanes (D) Barbara Mikulski (D) Official languages English Area 32,160 km² (42nd)  - Land 25,338 km²  - Water 6,968 km² (21%) Population... Maryland Public Television or MPT is a state-wide network of PBS member stations serving Maryland, with studios located in Owings Mills and six high-power UHF transmitters across the state. ... Jump to: navigation, search Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC, MP (born July 7, 1941) is a British politician and caretaker Leader of the Opposition and the Conservative Party, having formally resigned the post on 7 October 2005. ... Map sources for Telford at grid reference SJ6909 Telford is a planned town in Shropshire, England, that was named after the engineer Thomas Telford. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... The Right Honourable Alan Milburn (born January 27, 1958, Tow Law) is a British politician. ...

• "Meanwhile, the aspirations of ordinary, hardworking families will be the focus of attention for Tories in Bournemouth this week, their last conference before the General Election." — The Herald, 1996-10-07
• "It is equally certain that there will be something for hard-working families after Tony Blair and the Chancellor have made several public announcements about their commitment on this subject." — Daily Telegraph, 2005-03-14 ("At a glance guide to the most likely changes")
• "Chancellor Gordon Brown says that Tuesday's budget was designed to reward "hardworking families". What a sickening insult to the workers at Longbridge and the dependent factories who face devastation. ... These "hardworking families" now face the dole." — Socialist Worker, 2000-03-25 ("Labour fiddles while Rover burns")
• In satire: "I got to do some great Soundbites. My favourites were: "hard working families", "providing opportunity and security", "breaking down barriers" and "on the firm foundations we have laid down since 1997 our programme will embed a new progressive consensus in our country". Who couldn't help but be stirred by the Passion of such sentiments?" — Independent on Sunday, 2005-04-17, ("The Curious Campaign Diary of Tony Blair: Gosh! What a spacematic week")
• In a letter to the editor: "Sir: How right Andrew Schofield is (letter, 14 April) about the mantra "hard-working families". Having previously thought my working life fairly productive, I now discover that my single status proves me to have spent 25 years in total indolence. In fact, given that I've always worked in the public service and so can be dispensed with instantly with only benefit to the economy, I must always have been a freeloader of epic proportions. Given this, it would be hardly surprising if I could not be bothered to drag myself from my pit of sybaritic excess to a polling station." — Independent on Sunday, 2005-04-18, (letter by J Ambers)

"Hardworking" is also, by itself, a glittering generality: Jump to: navigation, search The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the centre-right in the United Kingdom. ... Jump to: navigation, search Bournemouth is a seaside resort in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... The Lighthouse, Charles Mackintoshs Glasgow Herald building The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Jump to: navigation, search October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years). ... This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search March 14 is the 73rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (74th in Leap years) with 292 days remaining in the year. ... Socialist Worker is a weekly newspaper published by the Socialist Workers Party. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year 2000. ... Jump to: navigation, search March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... The Independents old (pre-compact) masthead. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... The Independents old (pre-compact) masthead. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ...

• "They hate our people because it is decent, brave, industrious, hardworking and intelligent. They hate our views, our social policies, and our accomplishments. They hate us as a Reich and as a community. They have forced us into a struggle for life and death. We will defend ourselves accordingly. All is clear between us and our enemies." — Joseph Goebbels' address to Germany, 1939-12-31 ("Goebbels New Year Address for 1940", which in turn cites Die Zeit ohne Beispiel (1941) Jahreswechsel 1939/40. Sylvesteransprache an das deutsche Volk, Munich: Zentralverlag der NSDAP pages 229-239.)

Jump to: navigation, search Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels (October 29, 1897 – May 1, 1945) was Adolf Hitlers Propaganda Minister (see Propagandaministerium) in Nazi Germany. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

See also

• Code word (figure of speech)
• Loaded language
• Rhetorical device
• Language and thought
• Power word
• Logical fallacy

A code word is a word or a phase designed to evoke a pre-determined meaning to certain listeners, while disguising the speakers true meaning by allowing them to use a word that sounds much more acceptable to an average listener. ... A language construct, such as a word or a question, is said to be loaded if it carries meaning or implications beyond its strict definition (its denotation). ... A rhetorical device is a technique, sometimes called a resource of language, used by an author or speaker to induce an emotional response. ... A variety of different authors, theories and fields purport influences between language and thought. ... A power word (or power phrase) is a word (or a phrase) that is used to make ones statement stronger. ... A logical fallacy is an error in logical argument which is independent of the truth of the premises. ...

External links

• Propaganda critic: Glittering generalities
• Hardworking families — indymedia.org.uk
• Who are 'Britain's hardworking families'? BBC News