---
title: Silence means security
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/silence-means-security-hand-over-mouth-1944/
description: 'Cartoon security poster: a wide-eyed figure in a service cap with large ears and nose has his mouth covered by a large orange hand whose sleeve'
section: Collection
---

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3. Silence means security

[![Silence means security, 1944 US poster: Cartoon security poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/silence-means-security-hand-over-mouth-1944.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/silence-means-security-hand-over-mouth-1944.jpg)

# Silence means security

Cartoon security poster: a wide-eyed figure in a service cap with large ears and nose has his mouth covered by a large orange hand whose sleeve is a star-and-stripes cuff. Slogan 'Silence means security'. Transfer: the flag cuff gives the silencing hand national authority; the figure's eyes glance sideways.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
SILENCE
MEANS SECURITY
[imprint: W.D., A.G.O. "Silence" Security Poster. Additional copies may be requisitioned as prescribed in AR 310-200, 1 May 1943, as changed by Changes No. 2, 15 September 1943.]
[imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944--O--606742]
```

[← Sight security](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sight-security-1944/) [Smoke pots, M1 and M5 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/smoke-pots-m1-and-m5-1944/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Fragments of the Abydos king list from Ramesses II's temple, in the British Museum: rows of royal cartouches](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/abydos-king-list-ramesses-ii-temple-british-museum/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer)
- [Clay cylinder with the Ehulhul inscription of Nabonidus, king of Babylon, describing work on three temples](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/cylinder-nabonidus-ehulhul-inscription-555bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Glazed-brick panel with a striding lion, from Babylon (reign of Nebuchadnezzar II)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ishtar-gate-panel-striding-lion-nebuchadnezzar-ii-604bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Limestone relief block of Ramesses II wearing the White Crown, a jubilee relief from his temple at Herakleopolis](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jubilee-relief-ramesses-ii-herakleopolis-met-05-4-256/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Line drawing of the Great Kadesh battle relief on the walls of the Ramesseum, from Breasted's History of Egypt](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/kadesh-relief-ramesseum-breasted-drawing-1275bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer). Content note: A drawing of an Egyptian royal battle relief showing Hittite soldiers and horses killed and drowned, as the king's monument presented the battle; it is a one-sided image made by the winning side's own account.
- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Egyptian alabaster jar inscribed with the name of Xerxes the Great in four languages (Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian, Egyptian), 486 to 466 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/xerxes-jar-four-languages-486bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Transfer)