Credere, obbedire, combattere

Abstract

The article takes its cue from the Fascist motto «Believe, obey, fight», interpreting it as a formula that condenses a grammar of blind or irresponsible obedience. Through a rereading of the motto in light of classical Greek vocabulary, the essay highlights the structural link between believing (pisteuein) and obeying (peithesthai), showing how the nature of belief (pistis)—oscillating between reasoned adherence and unreflective reliance—structurally determines the quality and type of obedience. In the second part, the analysis focuses mainly on the functions that make Amtssprache, the bureaucratic language, the linguistic practice that most effectively promotes blind obedience: obscuring and distancing; automating; building loyalty.