Facts Are Not Enough

Should rational thought take precedent over instinct? In this speech to the 4A’s (the American Association of Advertising Agencies) 1980 Annual Meeting, Bill Bernbach, founder of DDB, outlines his personal philosophy on creative genius.

Facts Are Not Enough

Bill BernbachDDB

Let me read from a Wall Street Journal story of last year:

“A woman swallowed a pill. It contained only a little milk sugar, but she had been told it was a powerful drug. Within 10 minutes she was suffering severe reactions – first stomach pains, then diarrhea. Her lips swelled and her skin broke out.”

“After taking the same pills two other patients also displayed profound reactions. The experiment was a classic demonstration of the effect of a placebo.”

“The patient believes in it, so it works. From antiquity to this...

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