--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An autocratic system of coercion, in my…" description: "\"An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/albert-einstein-33_believe_an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-o_1157457.jpg" --- # An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon… ![“An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels. For this reason I have always been passionately opposed to systems such as we see in Italy…” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/albert-einstein-33_believe_an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-o_1157457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/albert-einstein-33_believe_an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-o_1157457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/albert-einstein-33_believe_an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-o_1157457.jpg) > “An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels. For this reason I have always been passionately opposed to systems such as we see in Italy and Russia to-day.” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power based on fear eventually collapses as it draws corrupt individuals and replaces virtuous leaders with immoral ones. **In simple terms:** Coercive power attracts immoral people and leads to decline. Key Takeaway Avoid oppressive systems. Themes politics ethics leadership Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - civil activism - education on civic rights - historical analysis Key Concepts authoritarianism corruption power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence leadership? - What safeguards prevent moral decay? A Different Perspective Even strong leaders can become tyrants without checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Coercion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Scoundrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoundrels/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [“An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion soon degenerates. For force always attract men of low morality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-opinion-soon-degenerates-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/force-always-attracts-men-of-low-morality-and-i-believe-it-to-be-an/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Degeneracy follows every autocratic system of violence, for violence inevitably attracts moral inferiors. Time has proven that illustrious tyrants are succeeded by scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/degeneracy-follows-every-autocratic-system-of-violence-for-violence/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In living through this great epoch, it is difficult to reconcile oneself to the fact that one belongs to that mad, degenerate species that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-living-through-this-great-epoch-it-is-difficult-to-reconcile/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Autocratic power requires the degradation of moral authority - not the capture of moral high ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/autocratic-power-requires-the-degradation-of-moral-authority-not-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“If the master allows himself to be commanded by a servant, the latter becomes autocratic; the mind is similarly enslaved by submitting to bodily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-the-master-allows-himself-to-be-commanded-by-a-servant-the-latter/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/i-played-a-lot-of-leaders-autocratic-sorts-perhaps-it-was-my-canadian/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [No central planning, no autocratic rule and no military regime can produce what free man can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/no-central-planning-no-autocratic-rule-and-no-military-regime-can/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [A republican government in a hundred points is weaker than an autocratic government; but in this one point it is the strongest that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-republican-government-in-a-hundred-points-is-weaker-than-an/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The checks and balances is a way to prevent government from either devolving into an autocratic tyranny or an autocratic mob mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/the-checks-and-balances-is-a-way-to-prevent-government-from-either/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/where-there-is-little-or-no-public-opinion-there-is-likely-to-be-bad/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/autocratic-governments-are-masters-of-self-contradiction-they-say-one/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [I've always been completely autocratic. I've never learned to be diplomatic or democratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parker/i-ve-always-been-completely-autocratic-i-ve-never-learned-to-be/) [Alan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parker/) > [In the post-Soviet era, instead of freedom, various stripes of autocratic-totalitarianism have flourished: Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh... We are finding our way out from under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/in-the-post-soviet-era-instead-of-freedom-various-stripes-of/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) ## More by Albert Einstein > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The strongest force in the universe is Compound Interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-strongest-force-in-the-universe-is-compound-interest/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The right to search for the truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-right-to-search-for-the-truth-implies-also-a-duty-one-must-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The world we have made is a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-world-we-have-made-is-a-result-of-the-level-of-thinking-we-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Life isn't worth living, unless it is lived for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-someone-else/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it isn't true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/just-because-you-don-t-believe-in-something-doesn-t-mean-it-isn-t-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But there is another reason for the high repute of mathematics: it is mathematics that offers the exact natural sciences a certain measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-there-is-another-reason-for-the-high-repute-of-mathematics-it-is/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-will-benefit-human-health-and-increase-the-chances-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Explore all 2,339 Albert Einstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More Autocratic quotes > [In the post-Soviet era, instead of freedom, various stripes of autocratic-totalitarianism have flourished: Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh... We are finding our way out from under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/in-the-post-soviet-era-instead-of-freedom-various-stripes-of/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [I've always been completely autocratic. I've never learned to be diplomatic or democratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parker/i-ve-always-been-completely-autocratic-i-ve-never-learned-to-be/) [Alan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parker/) > [Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/autocratic-governments-are-masters-of-self-contradiction-they-say-one/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/where-there-is-little-or-no-public-opinion-there-is-likely-to-be-bad/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [“An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion soon degenerates. For force always attract men of low morality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-opinion-soon-degenerates-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The checks and balances is a way to prevent government from either devolving into an autocratic tyranny or an autocratic mob mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/the-checks-and-balances-is-a-way-to-prevent-government-from-either/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [A republican government in a hundred points is weaker than an autocratic government; but in this one point it is the strongest that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-republican-government-in-a-hundred-points-is-weaker-than-an/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [No central planning, no autocratic rule and no military regime can produce what free man can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/no-central-planning-no-autocratic-rule-and-no-military-regime-can/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/i-played-a-lot-of-leaders-autocratic-sorts-perhaps-it-was-my-canadian/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [“If the master allows himself to be commanded by a servant, the latter becomes autocratic; the mind is similarly enslaved by submitting to bodily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-the-master-allows-himself-to-be-commanded-by-a-servant-the-latter/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Autocratic power requires the degradation of moral authority - not the capture of moral high ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/autocratic-power-requires-the-degradation-of-moral-authority-not-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Fashion is aristocratic-autocratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/fashion-is-aristocratic-autocratic/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [“It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or dictatorial rule are among the first to eliminate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-daniilovich-that-those-who-are/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [ You cannot apply your high standards to a country \[Egypt\] burdened with decades of autocratic rule. Our democracy is still in its infancy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/you-cannot-apply-your-high-standards-to-a-country-egypt-burdened-with/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) Browse all 45 Autocratic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. 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