Hitler often starts a sequence of ideas with “Therefore, the following conclus ions result:” “We can, therefore, state the following principles:” or similar introductory statements. Hitler liked to use etc. frequently. Some older translations edited these out but they are preserved in the Ford translation to keep Hitler’s original style. Some people criticize him for using etc., by saying it shows an uncreative mind, however the use of etc. actua lly indicates a complex thought process that is common in college professors who have dificulty making a single coherent statement because their mind automati cally attaches a long list of possibilities, outcomes, and inluences to every thought. Hitler has a tendency to create multiple top levels. For instance he s ays an organization’s most important goal is to distribute propaganda, then a paragraph later he says the most critical objective of the organization is to select the best pe ople who can carry out propaganda, then a couple of paragraphs later the organization’s most important goal is to avoid disagreements between members. This pattern of multiple “most important” considerations is repeated a number of times in Mein Kampf . Hitler used sarcasm heavily in Mein Kampf . Because of this, I think it is important to clearly deine what we mean by sarcasm. Sarcasm is a subdivision of irony. Contrary to some deinitions, sarcasm is not irony used with the intent to wound the person to whom the remark is addressed. Sarcasm can be hurtful intentionally or hurtful for a joke or not hurtful at all. Irony is by deinition: An expression marked by a deliberate contra st between apparent and intended meaning, usually to draw attention to some incongruit y or MEIN KAMPF MEIN KAMPF 37 irrationality. A literary style that uses this kind of contrast for humorous or rhet orical effect is also irony. These types of irony give the clue to the true deinition of an ironic statement . An ironic statement must appear as if you are sincere, there must be no hint of sarca sm, and you must not be aware that the remark is droll. The line must be delivered st raight, so that the recipient misses the hidden message but onlookers get it loud and clear . This was not Hitler’s style. He made sure everyone knew what he meant by his tone, or quot es in the text. The type of sarcasm Hitler uses was saying the opposite of what you actually think, sometimes to comedic effect. Or, the use of words to mean the opposite of what is said. It is a Socratic type of irony which borders on sarcasm because it has atte ntion drawn to it to make it clear so lower classes could easily identify and understand wha t was really being said. It is the same theory behind good writing. You do not tell the audience everyt hing but give them enough to igure it out for themselves, yet at the same time you cannot make the puzzle too dificult to igure out. It was a technique Hitler used to mai ntain interest in speeches and to make people accept what he was telling them as factual. Less intelligent listeners often cannot distinguish between irony, cynicism , a quip(nasty term which says a false premise as true for the purpose of hurting another’s fee lings) and sarcasm. Sarcasm is often described as the lowest form of wit but that is incorrec t, it is parody that without doubt takes that position. Quips are often confused with sarcasm even by t he user. They think they are intelligent and sarcastic when in fact they are ignorant and quippy. Quip is a way of indirectly expressing aggression towards others. The humor of complexity shields the speaker from vulnerability related to openly st ating an opinion and standing behind it. “What a great car” can be a quip if the car i s clearly not a nice one but this is not sarcastic. Quip’ers only show a supericial pa rt of themselves and avoid expressing deep opinions as opinions. Users of sarcasm want to make thei r opinions very clear through their vocal tone(shown by “quotes” in the text). Sarcasm,