Paul Harvey, a renowned news commentator and a pioneering voice in talk radio, became one of the most recognized voices across the United States. At the height of his career, he captivated the attention of more than 24 million listeners. Though his insights were remarkably accurate, many could not have foreseen that his iconic words from 54 years ago would resonate so profoundly in today’s world.
On April 3, 1965, the legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey delivered a memorable broadcast that has since sparked much reflection. His speech, commencing with the phrase, “If I were the Devil,” outlined a vision of the challenges we now grapple with in our society.
“If I Were the Devil” eerily imagined, “If I were the Prince of Darkness, I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I’d have a substantial hold over its lands and people, but my true aim would be to capture the heart of the American spirit.”
His plan? “I would begin with a campaign of whispers,” he mused, describing how he would subtly manipulate desires, just as a serpent might. “To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is nothing but a myth, convincing them that it was mankind who created God, and not the other way around.”
Harvey painted a chilling picture of moral inversion, where young couples might hear a whisper suggesting, “Work is degrading, but cocktail parties are beneficial.” He would have urged them to avoid extremes in belief, patriotism, and morals, presenting a path that distanced them from spiritual and civic responsibility.
In his address, Harvey offered insights into how organized chaos might unfold: “I’d threaten TV networks with even filthier films, playing one against the other.” He envisioned infiltrating unions to promote idleness, asserting, “Idle hands typically work in my favor.”
Furthermore, Harvey’s depiction extended to widespread moral decay: “I’d sell narcotics to anyone susceptible, provide alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, and numb the rest with pills. Schools would focus on intellectual refinement, but emotional discipline would be disregarded deliberately.”
This imagined campaign would aim to undermine religious beliefs, embellishing a controversial stance in legal proceedings, coaxing judgments to favor secularism over spirituality.
With biting sarcasm, Harvey remarked, “If I were Satan, I’d transform Easter into an egg-hunt and Christmas into a drinking fest.” He imagined a world where taking from the ambitious to satisfy the uninspired would kill incentive while coercive systems forced productivity without passion.
Family separation and forced assignments to labor camps were envisioned as tools to fracture society further, fostering a climate where division reigned over unity.
“If I were Satan,” he concluded simply, “I’d just keep doing what I’m doing, allowing the world to spiral into chaos.”
Paul Harvey delivered these profound insights with an unmatched eloquence and foresight, urging listeners to ponder the condition of the world. His words continue to inspire reflection on our societal path, serving as a cautionary reminder of the tangible impact of choices made in whispers.
