Anonymous Authority

Anonymous Authority
Erich Fromm


Our system must create people with preferences that fit the standard, people who can be easily influenced, people with needs that can be predicted ahead of time. The system needs people who feel free and independent, but who will still be willing to do what they are expected. People who will fit the social machine with no friction, people that can be guided without the use of force, that can be led without leaders, and that can be directed with no clear purpose but one- "to succeed".
This does not mean that authority has disappeared, or has lost its power, only that it has changed from a revealed authority to an anonymous authority of manipulative persuasion. In other words, in order to be compatible, modern man has to nurture the illusion that everything is done with his consent, even though this consent is gained in the way of sublime manipulation. His consent is gained behind his back, behind his consciousness.