The British have never been the touchy-feely types. Often characterized by their “stiff upper lip,” Britons have often relied on pragmatism and old-fashioned determination to solve problems (http://www.phrases.org.uk). In 1939, the British Ministry of Information was founded and charged with the distribution of wartime propaganda materials to the British public (http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com). This effort produced three simple, bold posters which would go on to define British war-time attitude.
Two of these posters, reading “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory” and “Freedom is in Peril” were distributed throughout London for morale-boosting purposes, while a third was warehoused; only to be distributed in the event of a German invasion (http://www.keepcalmandcarryonusa.com). This poster was bright red, topped with an image of King George VI’s crown, and proclaimed “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Thankfully, the feared German invasion of mainland Britain did not occur, so these posters were sent to be pulped. That is, except for one.
In the year 2000, bookseller Stuart Manley purchased a box of old novels at an auction in Northumberland. At the bottom of this box, Manley discovered the crumpled, tattered poster (http://news.bbc.co.uk). As Manley explained to the BBC, “I didn’t know anything about it but I showed it to my wife. We both liked it so we decided to frame it and put it in the shop.” Within a week, Manley was barraged with questions regarding the poster and decided to print copies for sale. Sales were modest at first, but after being featured in a gift catalog in 2005, the Keep Calm and Carry On poster rose to commercial prominence, making Mr. Manley a very wealthy man.
This poster’s enduring power and simplicity have inspired many in the modern era, as it was intended to so during World War II. As senior Matt Vernacchia best summarized, “The poster’s advice is still relevant today. In the face of terror and adversity, rationality and persistence will do far more to preserve security than unsubstantiated panic. A hasty, irrational response to an external threat can often do more damage than the threat itself.”
Simon Terhaag added that this slogan “represents the important idea of not losing your cool, even when the situation seems hopeless.” He continued to say, “This mind-set shows that no matter what happens, you can still get the best out of it.”
While the motivation poster has become something of a cliché in recent years, the Keep Calm and Carry On poster has risen to popularity: providing simple, practical advice in a complicated age.