All Heard And None Believed

The most famous lines and the most famous phrase from the most famous farewell address:

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.”

Here’s how “military-industrial complex” entered our vocabulary:

Eisenhower’s ‘Military-Industrial Complex’ Evolution – NYTimes.com

Eisehower …

“foretold our fate, but by the god’s decree

All heard, and none believed the prophesy.”

–The Aeneid

 

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