Timothy D. Snyder Quotes

No truly sophisticated proponent of repression would be stupid enough to shatter the facade of democratic institutions.

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.

All through human history, tyrannies have tried to enforce obedience by prohibiting disrespect for the symbols of their power. The swastika is only one example of many in recent history.

One need only watch totalitarians at work to see that once men gain power over other men’s minds, that power is never used sparingly and wisely, but lavishly and brutally and with unspeakable results.

Fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators' repression.

Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress?

Under the rule of a repressive whole, liberty can be made into a powerful instrument of domination.

Fear of death has been the greatest ally of tyranny past and present.

Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

In most of history, societies have not been free. It's a very rare society that is free. The default condition of human societies is tyranny.

Let tyrants shake their iron rod.

Because if you lived, as I did, several years under Nazi totalitarianism, and then 20 years in communist totalitarianism, you would certainly realize how precious freedom is, and how easy it is to lose your freedom.

It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.

Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think.

You look at the greatest villains in human history, the fascists, the autocrats, they all wanted people to kneel before them because they don't love themselves enough.

Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.

Tyrants of our day are the most dangerous preachers of liberty.

Dictators are as scared of books as they are of cannon.

... a step in the direction of tyranny.

I am inclined to believe dictators. Not to is dangerous.

One should always be vigilant for traces of totalitarianism in any ideology or movement

You agreed with the Dear Leader or you died or ended up in Camp 913.

There's nothing to fear. I'm not a dictator.

We'll never join up with the Fascists and Mussolinis of Italy.