--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democratic regimes may be defined as…" description: "\"Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the true sovereign..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg" --- # Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every… ![“Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the true sovereignty in actual fact resides in other forces which are sometimes irresponsible and secret.” quote by Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg) > “Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the true sovereignty in actual fact resides in other forces which are sometimes irresponsible and secret.” [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It claims democracies give an illusion of people’s power while real control lies elsewhere, often secretive. **In simple terms:** Democracies may hide true power behind hidden forces. Key Takeaway Question who truly holds power in your system. Themes politics power illusion Mood critical skeptical Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - elections - policy making - media influence - civil society Key Concepts sovereignty elitism transparency Questions to Reflect On - Who are the “other forces” in modern politics? - How can citizens see through political illusion? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex governance structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-regimes-3467370/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Now and then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now-and-then/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regimes/) [Regimes Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regimes-defined-3467371/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty/) [Sovereignty Actual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty-actual-3467372/) [True Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-sovereignty-3467373/) ## Related quotes > [The good Lord didn't see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratic regimes friendly to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-good-lord-didn-t-see-fit-to-put-oil-and-gas-only-where-there-are-2/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [The list of non-democratic regimes that have seen significant reforms since 2001 is long and significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-brown-waite/the-list-of-non-democratic-regimes-that-have-seen-significant-reforms/) [Ginny Brown-Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-brown-waite/) > [Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mobilize-their-people-against/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Russia is a country that has supported, propped up the worst of anti-democratic regimes in the Middle East, that has practiced - mistreated its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/russia-is-a-country-that-has-supported-propped-up-the-worst-of-anti/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [And the point is, is it possible for the mind to be totally free from suffering and yet not become indifferent, callous, irresponsible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/and-the-point-is-is-it-possible-for-the-mind-to-be-totally-free-from/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“I do my job,” Mikodez said, “because after all the trouble I went to get it, it would be irresponsible not to.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoon-ha-lee/i-do-my-job-mikodez-said-because-after-all-the-trouble-i-went-to-get/) [Yoon Ha Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoon-ha-lee/) > [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [All nations that have nuclear weapons think that they are responsible and it is the other guys who are irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cirincione/all-nations-that-have-nuclear-weapons-think-that-they-are-responsible/) [Joseph Cirincione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cirincione/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [Iran, Libya and Syria are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/iran-libya-and-syria-are-irresponsible-states-which-must-be-disarmed/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) ## More by Benito Mussolini > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [The working people are bound to their native shores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-working-people-are-bound-to-their-native-shores/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Fuehrer, we are on the march! Victorious Italian troops crossed the Greco-Albanian frontier at dawn today!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/fuehrer-we-are-on-the-march-victorious-italian-troops-crossed-the/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Three cheers for war, noble and beautiful above all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/three-cheers-for-war-noble-and-beautiful-above-all/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Yet if anyone cares to read over the now crumbling minutes giving an account of the meetings at which the Italian Fasci di Combattimento…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/yet-if-anyone-cares-to-read-over-the-now-crumbling-minutes-giving-an/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [War is the normal state of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/war-is-the-normal-state-of-the-people/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [What is freedom? There is no such thing as absolute freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-freedom-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-freedom/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [As regards the Liberal doctrines, the attitude of Fascism is one of absolute opposition both in the political and in the economical field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/as-regards-the-liberal-doctrines-the-attitude-of-fascism-is-one-of/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [The definition of fascism is The marriage of corporation and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-definition-of-fascism-is-the-marriage-of-corporation-and-state/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of Fascism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/fascism-is-a-religion-the-twentieth-century-will-be-known-in-history/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [The corporate State considers that private enterprise in the sphere of production is the most effective and useful instrument in the interest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-corporate-state-considers-that-private-enterprise-in-the-sphere/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [ If the 19th \[century\] was the century of the individual (liberalism means individualism), you may consider that this is the "collective" century, and therefore… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/if-the-19th-century-was-the-century-of-the-individual-liberalism/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [The fascist state is the corporate state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-fascist-state-is-the-corporate-state/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [If only we can give them faith that mountains can be moved, they will accept the illusion that mountains are moveable, and thus an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/if-only-we-can-give-them-faith-that-mountains-can-be-moved-they-will/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Italy wants peace and quiet, work and calm. I will give these things with love if possible and with force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/italy-wants-peace-and-quiet-work-and-calm-i-will-give-these-things/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) [Explore all 140 Benito Mussolini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) ## More Defined quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Among the many factors that make a return to halcyon days of the first decades of the postwar era virtually impossible is the decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/among-the-many-factors-that-make-a-return-to-halcyon-days-of-the/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Marriage and the creation of families has been an integral part of our society since its creation; it should not be defined without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-foster-bennett/marriage-and-the-creation-of-families-has-been-an-integral-part-of/) [Robert Foster Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-foster-bennett/) > [Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [If you think about basic science or coming up with new theories of mathematics, these are not the kinds of things which are necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/if-you-think-about-basic-science-or-coming-up-with-new-theories-of/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [the most terribly human moments - the ones we want to pretend never happened - are the very moments that make us who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/the-most-terribly-human-moments-the-ones-we-want-to-pretend-never/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [“We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-things-we-did-or-didn-t-do-in-our/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) [Browse all 1,532 Defined quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the true sovereignty in actual fact resides in other forces which are sometimes irresponsible and secret.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benito Mussolini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-those-in-which-every-now-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defined" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-those-in-which-every-now-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/benito-mussolini-3049_defined_democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-tho_382582.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion…” — Benito Mussolini", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benito Mussolini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democratic regimes may be defined as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-those-in-which-every-now-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-those-in-which-every-now-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```