20 Iconic British World War II Propaganda Posters

3. "Careless Talk Costs Lives - You Never Know Who's Listening!" (1940)

An original 1939 Ministry of Information 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster, left, is seen on display at Christie's auction house in London, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. The poster is to be auctioned in 'The London Sale' on Sept. 3 as is expected to realise a pr
Anonymous/AP

One of a number of posters designed along this theme, the phrase "Careless talk costs lives" was intended to discourage people from gossiping and possibly revealing secret information for fear of spies listening in.

The designer Fougasse (i.e. Cyril Kenneth Bird) encouraged the government to use humour in posters in order to persuade people to co-operate without appearing to preach to them.

 
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NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.