We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes…
““We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of terrorism is terrorism. The object of oppression is oppression. The object of torture is torture. The object of murder is murder. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Power seeks to perpetuate itself; all forms of oppression are self‑justifying ends, not means.
In simple terms: Power is an end, not a means.
Key Takeaway
Question authority.
Themes
politics
power
ethics
Mood
cautionary
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy analysis
- education
Key Concepts
critical theory
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do revolutions become dictatorships?
- How can societies prevent power abuse?