--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To summarize: it is a well-known fact…" description: "\"“To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/douglas-adams-122_people-problem_to-summarize-it-is-a-well-known-fact-tha_2075076.jpg" --- # To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people… ![“To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/douglas-adams-122_people-problem_to-summarize-it-is-a-well-known-fact-tha_2075076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/douglas-adams-122_people-problem_to-summarize-it-is-a-well-known-fact-tha_2075076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/douglas-adams-122_people-problem_to-summarize-it-is-a-well-known-fact-tha_2075076.jpg) > ““To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.”” [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power tends to attract those least qualified, making governance problematic. **In simple terms:** Unfit leaders often seek power. Key Takeaway Question authority and demand competence. Themes leadership power incompetence Mood skeptical inquisitive Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - elections - corporate leadership - community organizing - activism Key Concepts political theory human nature Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent unqualified leaders? - How do we balance expertise with democratic choice? A Different Perspective Not all power seekers are incompetent; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it... anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-those-people-who-most-want-to-rule/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/to-summarize-the-summary-of-the-summary-people-are-a-problem/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/to-summarize-it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-those-people-who-must-want/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-who-is-capable-of-getting-themselves-made-president-should-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The major problem— one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-major-problem-one-of-the-major-problems-for-there-are-several-one-2/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/anyone-who-is-capable-of-getting-themselves-made-president-should-on-3/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. —Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-benjamin/anyone-who-is-capable-of-getting-themselves-made-president-should-on-2/) [Oliver Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-benjamin/) > [We stand a chance of getting a president who has probably killed more people before he gets into office than any president in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/we-stand-a-chance-of-getting-a-president-who-has-probably-killed-more/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [Wizards First Rule: People are Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizards-first-rule-people-are-stupid/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The American government is a rule of the people, by the people, for the bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/the-american-government-is-a-rule-of-the-people-by-the-people-for-the/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [We on the left have forgotten that the question is not how do you get good people to rule, most people who rule are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/we-on-the-left-have-forgotten-that-the-question-is-not-how-do-you-get/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Past and Present have different customs; new and old adopt different measures. To try to use the ways of a generous and lenient government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/past-and-present-have-different-customs-new-and-old-adopt-different/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [“A brick should decide who gets to rule the people, and I should decide what rules determine whom the brick favors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-should-decide-who-gets-to-rule-the-people-and-i-should-decide/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [You know, my mother had a rule which was 'people are just people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-cheney/you-know-my-mother-had-a-rule-which-was-people-are-just-people/) [Lynne Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-cheney/) > [Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like-a-fine-thing-we-should-try/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by Douglas Adams > [2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/2-000-years-ago-one-man-got-nailed-to-a-tree-for-saying-how-great-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [One is never alone with a rubber duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/one-is-never-alone-with-a-rubber-duck/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/this-must-be-thursday-i-never-could-get-the-hang-of-thursdays/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-are-some-oddities-in-the-perspective-with-which-we-see-the-world/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Eight hours West sat a man alone on a beach mourning an inexplicable loss. He could only think of his loss in little packets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/eight-hours-west-sat-a-man-alone-on-a-beach-mourning-an-inexplicable/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The Universe, the whole infinite Universe. The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-universe-the-whole-infinite-universe-the-infinite-suns-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When we told our guide that we didn't want to go to all the tourist places he took us instead to the places where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-we-told-our-guide-that-we-didn-t-want-to-go-to-all-the-tourist/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“But Douglas was a genius, because he saw the world differently, and more importantly, he could communicate the world he saw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-douglas-was-a-genius-because-he-saw-the-world-differently-and/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The bits which did mean anything were often so wonderfully buried that no one could ever spot them slipping past in the avalanche of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-bits-which-did-mean-anything-were-often-so-wonderfully-buried/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [You come to me for advice, but you can't cope with anything you don't recognize. Hmmm. So we'll have to tell you something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-come-to-me-for-advice-but-you-can-t-cope-with-anything-you-don-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More People Problem quotes > [A hundred people will show up when you have a party, but only a few people will show up when you have a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-hundred-people-will-show-up-when-you-have-a-party-but-only-a-few/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/to-summarize-the-summary-of-the-summary-people-are-a-problem/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People who can't be alone have a problem. Loneliness is a luxury for people like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/people-who-can-t-be-alone-have-a-problem-loneliness-is-a-luxury-for/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [I think drugs and alcohol aren't a wrestling problem, it's a life problem, it's a people problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-think-drugs-and-alcohol-aren-t-a-wrestling-problem-it-s-a-life/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [“anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-who-is-capable-of-getting-themselves-made-president-should-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The technology is here; it’s never been easier to communicate and collaborate with people anywhere, any time. But that still leaves a fundamental people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/the-technology-is-here-it-s-never-been-easier-to-communicate-and/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [If people have a problem with you, always remember, it is THEIR problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-markandeya/if-people-have-a-problem-with-you-always-remember-it-is-their-problem/) [Paresh Markandeya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-markandeya/) > [People have a problem with how I deal with things...if the problem to them is so bad then they should stop try and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-a-problem-with-how-i-deal-with-things-if-the-problem-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For now, capitalism is working to produce more money but does not see the people. This problem is getting worse across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/for-now-capitalism-is-working-to-produce-more-money-but-does-not-see/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [I don't necessarily think the way people do, but that's not my problem. My problem is not to reinforce or destroy any ideas anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-don-t-necessarily-think-the-way-people-do-but-that-s-not-my-problem/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Regular people are the problem. It's not the government, it's not the invasive Big Brother, it's the fact that we're a nation of snitches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/regular-people-are-the-problem-it-s-not-the-government-it-s-not-the/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [Those who can't do, teach. And, as Woody Allen says, those who can't teach, teach gym. And, as I say, those who can't teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/those-who-can-t-do-teach-and-as-woody-allen-says-those-who-can-t/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I think when people have a problem with you based on your identity alone, that usually the problem is themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-fightmaster/i-think-when-people-have-a-problem-with-you-based-on-your-identity/) [E. R. Fightmaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-fightmaster/) > [Somewhere along the way in your life, the world and its people will have a problem with you. That's their problem. Not yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/somewhere-along-the-way-in-your-life-the-world-and-its-people-will/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [No matter what the problem is, it's a people problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-weinberg/no-matter-what-the-problem-is-it-s-a-people-problem/) [Gerald Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-weinberg/) Browse all 60 People Problem quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. 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