The danger of words

Here's -once again- Stephen Fry, talking a bit about the power of language in Nazi Germany. This is a point I find extremely interesting and disturbing - not just because I'm German, simply because I've always been aware and intrigued by the 'darker' side of language and literature, by how words can destroy or manipulate thought (see my thoughts on Orwell's Newspeak). Language can literally do everything - even lead whole nations into commiting genocide. And (although German is particularly suited for slogans and the like - a lot of harsh consonants etc) it can happen to all of us. You can talk someone into commiting suicide - or stop him from killing himself. It all depends on the words you use. And often enough, they're still beautiful words. Beautiful and powerful - and potentially very, very dangerous.