--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dictators are actually very fearful…" description: "\"Dictators are actually very fearful themselves. Even when they're asleep, they're afraid that others will take their powers away.\" — Chen Guangcheng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/chen-guangcheng-33100_dictator_dictators-are-actually-very-fearful-them_705760.jpg" --- # Dictators are actually very fearful themselves. Even when… ![“Dictators are actually very fearful themselves. Even when they're asleep, they're afraid that others will take their powers away.” quote by Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/chen-guangcheng-33100_dictator_dictators-are-actually-very-fearful-them_705760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/chen-guangcheng-33100_dictator_dictators-are-actually-very-fearful-them_705760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/chen-guangcheng-33100_dictator_dictators-are-actually-very-fearful-them_705760.jpg) > “Dictators are actually very fearful themselves. Even when they're asleep, they're afraid that others will take their powers away.” [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even those in power can be driven by fear of losing it, revealing insecurity behind authoritarian behavior. **In simple terms:** Dictators are insecure. Key Takeaway Recognize fear as a driver of actions. Themes power fear authoritarianism insecurity Mood analytical critical Type political psychological When to use this quote - policy analysis - leadership training - negotiation tactics - media commentary Key Concepts political psychology control dynamics leadership studies Questions to Reflect On - Why do powerful people fear losing control? - How does fear shape their policies? A Different Perspective Fear can be exploited, but may also provoke reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful/) ## Related quotes > [It seems that the most fearful people in our country are those who don't travel and are metaphorically barricaded in America. If we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-seems-that-the-most-fearful-people-in-our-country-are-those-who/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [Tyrants and dictators will accept no other gods before them. They require disobedience to the First Commandment. They seek absolute control and are threatened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/tyrants-and-dictators-will-accept-no-other-gods-before-them-they/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Aspiring dictators sometimes win elections, and elected leaders sometimes govern badly and threaten their neighbors.History demonstrates that democracy usually follows good governance, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/aspiring-dictators-sometimes-win-elections-and-elected-leaders/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Laughter is something we have against oppression and oppressive people. Dictators hate people who laugh at them. It's easy for them to destroy people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/laughter-is-something-we-have-against-oppression-and-oppressive/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [I think that, from Vaclav Havel own experience, he knew if we all paid attention to what was going on, the chances were that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/i-think-that-from-vaclav-havel-own-experience-he-knew-if-we-all-paid/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [The first thing dictators do is finish free press, to establish censorship. There is no doubt that a free press is the first enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/the-first-thing-dictators-do-is-finish-free-press-to-establish/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [Dictators can be deterred, they can be crushed - but they can never be appeased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/dictators-can-be-deterred-they-can-be-crushed-but-they-can-never-be/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Dictators are ludicrous characters, and, you know, in my career and in my life, I've always enjoyed sort of inhabiting these ludicrous, larger-than-life characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-baron-cohen/dictators-are-ludicrous-characters-and-you-know-in-my-career-and-in/) [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-baron-cohen/) > [Mobs and dictators were made for each other, and when mobs appear, dictators will soon flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/mobs-and-dictators-were-made-for-each-other-and-when-mobs-appear/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [When dictators and tyrants seek to destroy the freedoms of men, their first target is the legal profession and through it the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-jaworski/when-dictators-and-tyrants-seek-to-destroy-the-freedoms-of-men-their/) [Leon Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-jaworski/) > [As centuries of dictators have known, an illiterate crowd is the easiest to rule; since the craft of reading cannot be untaught once it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/as-centuries-of-dictators-have-known-an-illiterate-crowd-is-the/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > ['The End of America' details the 10 steps that would-be dictators always take in seeking to close an open society; it argued that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/the-end-of-america-details-the-10-steps-that-would-be-dictators/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/dictators-can-always-consolidate-their-tyranny-by-an-appeal-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [America has had to deal with eccentric dictators in the past: Idi Amin, Muammar Qaddafi, Ming the Merciless... but now the security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/america-has-had-to-deal-with-eccentric-dictators-in-the-past-idi-amin/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Dictators always look good until the last minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/dictators-always-look-good-until-the-last-minutes/) [Tomas Garrigue Masaryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/) ## More by Chen Guangcheng > [I'm just doing what my conscience asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-m-just-doing-what-my-conscience-asks-me-to-do/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I can be jailed again at any time, it is very easy. They can say I am a criminal and just lock me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-can-be-jailed-again-at-any-time-it-is-very-easy-they-can-say-i-am-a/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [The Chinese foreign ministry has said more than once that I am a free person. Did I do anything wrong by leaving my home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/the-chinese-foreign-ministry-has-said-more-than-once-that-i-am-a-free/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [My safety and my family's safety are not guaranteed even now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/my-safety-and-my-family-s-safety-are-not-guaranteed-even-now/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I am not in exile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-am-not-in-exile/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [China is on a march toward rule of law and democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/china-is-on-a-march-toward-rule-of-law-and-democracy/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I cannot be silent when facing these evils against women and children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-cannot-be-silent-when-facing-these-evils-against-women-and-children/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I want to extend my gratitude and thankfulness to all those who care and love my family and myself, and our situation, especially the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-want-to-extend-my-gratitude-and-thankfulness-to-all-those-who-care/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I chose to defend human rights because I cannot maintain my silence in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-chose-to-defend-human-rights-because-i-cannot-maintain-my-silence/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [How a society treats its disabled is the true measure of a civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/how-a-society-treats-its-disabled-is-the-true-measure-of-a/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [No matter what happens, I feel very good about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/no-matter-what-happens-i-feel-very-good-about-the-future/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I feel it's in people's nature to want to stop evil and embrace the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-feel-it-s-in-people-s-nature-to-want-to-stop-evil-and-embrace-the/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [I've come out of a small jail and entered a bigger one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/i-ve-come-out-of-a-small-jail-and-entered-a-bigger-one/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) > [My fervent hope is that it would be possible for me and my family to leave for the U.S. on Hillary Clinton’s plane,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/my-fervent-hope-is-that-it-would-be-possible-for-me-and-my-family-to/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) [Explore all 15 Chen Guangcheng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) ## 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": "Dictators are actually very fearful themselves. 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