--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly…" description: "\"Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly authoritarian, but he had a saying which is profoundly true, I don't remember the exact words, but what he sai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bernard-lewis-11653_dictator_mustafa-kemal-s-government-was-certainly_1448013.jpg" --- # Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly authoritarian… ![“Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly authoritarian, but he had a saying which is profoundly true, I don't remember the exact words, but what he said was that I am a dictator so that there will never again be a dictator in Turkey, and I think that was right. He felt that there were certain…” quote by Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bernard-lewis-11653_dictator_mustafa-kemal-s-government-was-certainly_1448013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bernard-lewis-11653_dictator_mustafa-kemal-s-government-was-certainly_1448013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bernard-lewis-11653_dictator_mustafa-kemal-s-government-was-certainly_1448013.jpg) > “Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly authoritarian, but he had a saying which is profoundly true, I don't remember the exact words, but what he said was that I am a dictator so that there will never again be a dictator in Turkey, and I think that was right. He felt that there were certain changes which needed to be made. He wanted to make those changes, he felt they were essential.” [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader may adopt authoritarian means to prevent future tyranny, believing drastic change is necessary. **In simple terms:** Dictatorship to stop dictators. Key Takeaway Consider means vs. ends. Themes politics leadership ethics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type historical political When to use this quote - government reform - national crisis - policy overhaul - civil liberties Key Concepts authoritarianism revolutionary change Questions to Reflect On - Is authoritarianism ever justified? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Risk of justifying oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authoritarian Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian-saying-5199358/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictator Turkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator-turkey-5199357/) [Kemal Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kemal-government-5199359/) [Mustafa Kemal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mustafa-kemal-240945/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Said Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-dictator-1365333/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really understand what a dictator is, but on the other hand I sometimes, in a nice way, envy myself," he said. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/i-don-t-really-understand-what-a-dictator-is-but-on-the-other-hand-i/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [“Few politicians observed the developments in Anatolia between 1918 and 1923 with greater interest than Adolf Hitler, who would later profess that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gerwarth/few-politicians-observed-the-developments-in-anatolia-between-1918/) [Robert Gerwarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gerwarth/) > [“Under the treaty of Sevres in 1920 Greece had been given Smyrna, and by 1922 the Greek army was trying to push its way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/under-the-treaty-of-sevres-in-1920-greece-had-been-given-smyrna-and/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [There are two Mustafa Kemals. One the flesh-and-blood Mustafa Kemal who now stands before you and who will pass away. The other is you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/there-are-two-mustafa-kemals-one-the-flesh-and-blood-mustafa-kemal/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [“Mustafa Kemal drily reminds his co-conspirators that the object is not to die for the revolution, but to live for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/mustafa-kemal-drily-reminds-his-co-conspirators-that-the-object-is/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [There are two Mustafa Kemals: one is I, the flesh and bone Mustafa Kemal... the scond Mustafa Kemal I cannot describe with the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/there-are-two-mustafa-kemals-one-is-i-the-flesh-and-bone-mustafa/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [“...belki de Snelman Petrov'un kendisidir, veya belki de Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'tür.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/belki-de-snelman-petrov-un-kendisidir-veya-belki-de-mustafa-kemal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was indeed the case in the following two and a half decades, ending in the later 1940s, when the forced expulsion of millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gerwarth/this-was-indeed-the-case-in-the-following-two-and-a-half-decades/) [Robert Gerwarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gerwarth/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Joe Paterno was a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/joe-paterno-was-a-dictator/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) ## More by Bernard Lewis > [ “Different groups in the \[Middle East\] drew two lessons from \[return of the shah in Iran\] - one, that Americans were willing to use… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/different-groups-in-the-middle-east-drew-two-lessons-from-return-of/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [The Cold War philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which prevented the former Soviet Union and the United States from using the nuclear weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/the-cold-war-philosophy-of-mutual-assured-destruction-mad-which/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [You see in the Muslim traditions, it's very clear: maintaining law and consultation, not being arbitrary and oppressive. Consultation. And also in the Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/you-see-in-the-muslim-traditions-it-s-very-clear-maintaining-law-and/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [To accept the story of the Arab destruction of the library of Alexandria, one must explain how it is that so dramatic an event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/to-accept-the-story-of-the-arab-destruction-of-the-library-of/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [I know it is said repeatedly that I was in support of the American invasion in Iraq. It is simply not true. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/i-know-it-is-said-repeatedly-that-i-was-in-support-of-the-american/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [Certainly Tunisia was the first in Muslim world. It's been like that for a long time and women play an important part in Tunisia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/certainly-tunisia-was-the-first-in-muslim-world-it-s-been-like-that/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [In the West nowadays, it's very common to talk about the Judeo- Christian tradition. It's a common term. The term is relatively modern but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/in-the-west-nowadays-it-s-very-common-to-talk-about-the-judeo/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [When we talk about the Judeo-Christian or the Judeo-Muslim tradition, it's important to remember that we are speaking of a Jewish component of civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/when-we-talk-about-the-judeo-christian-or-the-judeo-muslim-tradition/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [In opposing we always talk about freedom in the Western world, Muslims always talk about justice. Very often we mean the same thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/in-opposing-we-always-talk-about-freedom-in-the-western-world-muslims/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [You see in Turkey, they had a remarkable success story in building up a democracy. I was in Istanbul for most of the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/you-see-in-turkey-they-had-a-remarkable-success-story-in-building-up/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [The word "democracy" is a Western word obviously. It doesn't exist in Arabic. Democratiya is a loan word. We in the Western world make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/the-word-democracy-is-a-western-word-obviously-it-doesn-t-exist-in/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [In the Christian world, as you remember, Christianity is in the 21st century, Islam is in the 15th century. I don't mean to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/in-the-christian-world-as-you-remember-christianity-is-in-the-21st/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [It is difficult to generalize about Islam. To begin with, the word itself is commonly used with two related but distinct meanings, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/it-is-difficult-to-generalize-about-islam-to-begin-with-the-word/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [“Those who are unwilling to confront the past will be unable to understand the present and unfit to face the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/those-who-are-unwilling-to-confront-the-past-will-be-unable-to/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [“ (Note: The following was written in 2003, before the full implication of US military commitment in Afghanistan and Iraq could be fully appreciated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/note-the-following-was-written-in-2003-before-the-full-implication-of/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) [Explore all 58 Bernard Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) ## More Dictator quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Joe Paterno was a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/joe-paterno-was-a-dictator/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [I'm the type of actor that believes the director has to be in charge. I've been on sets where the actor's ego was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-m-the-type-of-actor-that-believes-the-director-has-to-be-in-charge/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I started understanding that my strength is my gentleness. A leader isn't a dictator, a leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/i-started-understanding-that-my-strength-is-my-gentleness-a-leader/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) [Browse all 771 Dictator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mustafa Kemal's government was certainly authoritarian, but he had a saying which is profoundly true, I don't remember the exact words, but what he said was that I am a dictator so that there will never again be a dictator in Turkey, and I think that was right. He felt that there were certain changes which needed to be made. 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