Content note: Two exaggerated profile caricatures of enemy figures with oversized ears and scowling faces whisper to a blank-faced civilian. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Be smart, act dumb! Loose talk can cost lives
Loose-talk security poster: a blank-faced man in a hat and bow tie is flanked by two oversized, scowling profile caricatures of enemy figures leaning in with large ears, with 'Be smart, act dumb!' above and 'Loose talk can cost lives' on yellow bands. The tell is the listening ears and the stated cost in lives: a fear-appeal urging civilians to say nothing.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- British and American Ambulance Corps, Inc. (artist O. Soglow)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- NGO
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Home front, Security and surveillance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
British and American Ambulance Corps, Inc. (artist O. Soglow). National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-462 (NAID 513932).
Text on the object
BE SMART ACT DUMB! LOOSE TALK CAN COST LIVES [signature:] O. SOGLOW [imprint:] ©1942 [imprint:] DISTRIBUTED IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND AS A MEANS OF OBTAINING FUNDS FOR AMBULANCES WHEREVER NEEDED. BRITISH AND AMERICAN AMBULANCE CORPS, INC., 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY [imprint:] LITHO. IN U.S.A.
