--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Industrial societies can only be run…" description: "\"Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.\" — Dora Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png" --- # Industrial societies can only be run successfully by… ![“Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.” quote by Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png) > “Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.” [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claims that large societies need authoritarian control to function. **In simple terms:** Dictatorship needed for industrial societies. Key Takeaway Question power structures. Themes politics authority society Mood critical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - economic planning - social organization Key Concepts centralization power dynamics efficiency Questions to Reflect On - Can societies thrive without authoritarian rule? - What alternatives exist to centralized control? A Different Perspective Overlooks democratic innovation and citizen agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Dictators Oligarchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators-oligarchs-4265686/) [Industrial Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industrial-societies-2236988/) [Oligarchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchs/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Successfully Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successfully-dictators-6086194/) ## Related quotes > [“The source of desire to be driven by power and spread of influence makes its owner dangerous to its privileges, as it not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirio-berati/the-source-of-desire-to-be-driven-by-power-and-spread-of-influence/) [Sirio Berati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirio-berati/) > [I think we live in a period of profound transformation. Very similar to when we had a transition from agricultural societies to industrial societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/i-think-we-live-in-a-period-of-profound-transformation-very-similar/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [As women in industrial societies join the paid workforce, they gain the economic means to depart unhappy marriages more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/as-women-in-industrial-societies-join-the-paid-workforce-they-gain/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [I've long believed alas, that in highly organized industrial societies, capitalist or socialist, the stronger tendency is to converge - that if steel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/i-ve-long-believed-alas-that-in-highly-organized-industrial-societies/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [In all advanced industrial societies, education has become the single most important vehicle of upward mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/in-all-advanced-industrial-societies-education-has-become-the-single/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [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 Dora Russell > [One of the problems with industrialism is that it's based on the premise of more and more. It has to keep expanding to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/one-of-the-problems-with-industrialism-is-that-it-s-based-on-the/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [We do not want our world to perish. But in our quest for knowledge, century by century, we have placed all our trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/we-do-not-want-our-world-to-perish-but-in-our-quest-for-knowledge/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [We have never yet had a labor Government that knew what taking power really means; they always act like second-class citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/we-have-never-yet-had-a-labor-government-that-knew-what-taking-power/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [I read recently in an article by G.K. Chesterton, that sex without gestation and parturition is like blowing the trumpets and waving the flags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/i-read-recently-in-an-article-by-g-k-chesterton-that-sex-without/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [We want far better reasons for having children than not knowing how to prevent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/we-want-far-better-reasons-for-having-children-than-not-knowing-how/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Industrialism is the religion with 'the machine' as the god going to answer all the prayers. Communism and capitalism were just competing sects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrialism-is-the-religion-with-the-machine-as-the-god-going-to/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Because men have so long ruled the world, it does not follow that the philosophy by which they have ruled it is the correct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/because-men-have-so-long-ruled-the-world-it-does-not-follow-that-the/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Democracy can only spring from practising it early, and democratic action was not to expected from young people brought up under a close authoritarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/democracy-can-only-spring-from-practising-it-early-and-democratic/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Marriage laws, the police, armies and navies are the mark of human incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/marriage-laws-the-police-armies-and-navies-are-the-mark-of-human/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Comfort is bought at too high a price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/comfort-is-bought-at-too-high-a-price/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Hence we did not foster competition in our school, on the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/hence-we-did-not-foster-competition-in-our-school-on-the-contrary/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [We have heeded no wisdom offering guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/we-have-heeded-no-wisdom-offering-guidance/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Humanity will ever seek but never attain perfection. Let us at least survive and go on trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/humanity-will-ever-seek-but-never-attain-perfection-let-us-at-least/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [Strictly speaking, no person who believes that wars between classes and nations are inevitable is fit to be in charge of the destiny of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/strictly-speaking-no-person-who-believes-that-wars-between-classes/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [What does one do about the dead? They live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/what-does-one-do-about-the-dead-they-live-forever/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) [Explore all 32 Dora Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) ## 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": "Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dora Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-successfully-by-dictators-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dictator" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-successfully-by-dictators-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/dora-russell-19718_dictator_industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-suc_1600694.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.” — Dora Russell", "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": "Dora Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Industrial societies can only be run...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-successfully-by-dictators-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-successfully-by-dictators-or/#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 } } ] } ```