When iconic broadcaster Paul Harvey delivered his piece “If I Were the Devil” back in 1965, many took it as sharp social commentary — a cautionary tale. But nearly 60 years later, his words feel less like opinion… and more like an unsettling glimpse into the future.
With his steady, persuasive voice, Harvey didn’t warn of destruction through bombs or battles. Instead, he painted a picture of a society unraveling from the inside — not by force, but by seduction, complacency, and moral erosion.
“If I were the Devil,” he imagined,
“I’d whisper, ‘Do whatever feels good.’
I’d tell young people the Bible is just a story — that man created God, not the other way around.
I’d strip God from schools, courts, and even churches.
I’d flood communities with drugs and alcohol.
I’d tear families apart and make them too busy or too broken to notice.
I’d urge people to put their faith not in God, but in government.
I’d trade wisdom for indulgence, facts for personal opinions — and sell it all as freedom.
And I’d keep pushing… until the world quietly fell into my grasp.”