Gary Shteyngart Quotes

Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

The lust of dominion innovates so imperceptibly that we become complete despots before our wanton abuse of power is perceived; the tyranny first exercised in the nursery is exhibited in various shapes and degrees in every stage of our existence.

The tyrant claims freedom to kill freedom, and yet keep it for himself.

The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Beware the tyranny of the weak. They just suck you dry.

Power is what men seek and any group that gets it will abuse it.

Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does, as it is to its victims; the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates. The truth is, nobody really possesses it.

I have never been able to conceive how any rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power over others.

Power corrupts; but absolute power is really neat.

… the tools of despotism and corruption

People who are in a position of power like to throw their weight around, and that becomes abuse.

The fear tactic is a tactic that's used by people who want to maintain control, and it's very effective.

I think it's a dangerous thing for anyone to have power over other people.

When you're convinced that you're right and you believe that you have the license to do anything because you're right, you can be bossy and you can be dangerous. You can be oppressive. You can be a tyrant.

It's easier to control people when they're afraid.

You see, control can never be a means to any practical end...It can never be a means to anything but more control...like junk.

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.

I'm tempting you with fine gifts until your girlish ideals are quite worn away and you are at my mercy.

Power not only corrupts he who wields the power but those who submit to it. Those who grovel at the feet of power betray their fellows to hide themselves behind the cloak of submission. It is an evil thing.

Narrow minds can develop as well through persecution as through benevolence; they can assure themselves of their power by tyrannizing cruelly or beneficially over others.

Authority is quite degrading.

Harassment is about power---the undue exercise of power by a superior over a subordinate.

They try to make you think they care about what you do but they don't. They don't want you to act a certain way. So you're easy to understand. So you won't pose a threat to them.

To subjugate another is to subjugate yourself.