--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Note to self: Overthrow government of…" description: "\"“Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at earliest convenience.”\" — Eliezer Yudkowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png" --- # Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at… ![“Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at earliest convenience.” quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png) > ““Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at earliest convenience.”” [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests a radical, covert plan to overthrow a fictional magical government. **In simple terms:** A whimsical, extreme political fantasy. Key Takeaway Recognize satire and avoid extremist actions. Themes political satire fantasy radicalism Mood playful critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - role‑playing games - creative writing - political commentary Key Concepts anarchism magical realism subversive humor Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about power fantasies? - How do satire and reality intersect? A Different Perspective Could be misinterpreted as genuine incitement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government Magical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-magical-2867968/) [Magical Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magical-britain-2867970/) [Note to self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-to-self/) [Overthrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthrow/) [Overthrow Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthrow-government-678593/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Self Overthrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-overthrow-2867969/) ## Related quotes > [I've never conspired to overthrow the government; all I did was report on the Arab Spring and suggest that something similar might happen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eskinder-nega/i-ve-never-conspired-to-overthrow-the-government-all-i-did-was-report/) [Eskinder Nega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eskinder-nega/) > [ \[T\]he people as ultimate sovereigns, retain the ultimate power - and even the duty - to overthrow any government that fails to respect their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/t-he-people-as-ultimate-sovereigns-retain-the-ultimate-power-and-even/) [Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/) > [It's embarrassing ... you try to overthrow the government and you wind up on the Best Seller's List.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/it-s-embarrassing-you-try-to-overthrow-the-government-and-you-wind-up/) [Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/) > [I don't want to overthrow the government. I wanna fire 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallagher/i-don-t-want-to-overthrow-the-government-i-wanna-fire-em/) [Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallagher/) > [We need to change the system. We need to overthrow, not the government, as the authorities are always accusing the Communists 'of conspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/we-need-to-change-the-system-we-need-to-overthrow-not-the-government/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [It is easy to overthrow a government but very difficult to build a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/it-is-easy-to-overthrow-a-government-but-very-difficult-to-build-a/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [In Chile, they had penas, where the community would come together to sing and plan how they were going to overthrow the government. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/in-chile-they-had-penas-where-the-community-would-come-together-to/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [“Anyone can overthrow a government. It’s ruling that’s hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elan-mastai/anyone-can-overthrow-a-government-it-s-ruling-that-s-hard/) [Elan Mastai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elan-mastai/) > [“she learned slowly and painfully that it was easier to overthrow a government than to create a one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/she-learned-slowly-and-painfully-that-it-was-easier-to-overthrow-a/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [In using the strong hand, as now compelled to do, the government has a difficult duty to perform. At the very best, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-using-the-strong-hand-as-now-compelled-to-do-the-government-has-a/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“The Declaration of Independence states that we the people have the right to revolution, the right to overthrow a government that has committed abuses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolpho-gonzales/the-declaration-of-independence-states-that-we-the-people-have-the/) [Rodolpho Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolpho-gonzales/) > [The Emancipation Proclamation is predicated upon the idea that the President may so annul the constitutions and laws of sovereign states, overthrow their domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melville-fuller/the-emancipation-proclamation-is-predicated-upon-the-idea-that-the/) [Melville Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melville-fuller/) > [“Men don’t overthrow governments just to create a vacuum. They do it to acquire power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-sedgwick/men-don-t-overthrow-governments-just-to-create-a-vacuum-they-do-it-to/) [Jamie Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-sedgwick/) > [“How can you walk away,” Connor finally says, “when they’re about to overthrow the Cap-17 law?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/how-can-you-walk-away-connor-finally-says-when-they-re-about-to/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Honduras is strongly anti-Communist, maintains no diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, and has provided vital support for United States-backed rebels fighting to overthrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/honduras-is-strongly-anti-communist-maintains-no-diplomatic-relations/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) ## More by Eliezer Yudkowsky > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-i-really-am-ravenclaw-you-know-not-slytherin-i-don-t-want-to-rule/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I see little hope for democracy as an effective form of government, but I admire the poetry of how it makes its victims complicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-see-little-hope-for-democracy-as-an-effective-form-of-government/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“He really really really shouldn't have done that. Amazing how much more obvious that became one second after it was too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/he-really-really-really-shouldn-t-have-done-that-amazing-how-much/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make-lightning-flash-in-the/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“There’s a technique we use in our local rationalist cluster called “Is That Your True Rejection?”, and it works like this: Before you stake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-technique-we-use-in-our-local-rationalist-cluster-called-is/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Knowing that Draco's hopeful face had probably been drilled into him by months of practice did not make it any less effective, Harry observed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/knowing-that-draco-s-hopeful-face-had-probably-been-drilled-into-him/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [It is triple ultra forbidden to respond to criticism with violence. There are a very few injunctions in the human art of rationality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/it-is-triple-ultra-forbidden-to-respond-to-criticism-with-violence/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The human species was not born into a market economy. Bees won't sell you honey if you offer them an electronic funds transfer. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-human-species-was-not-born-into-a-market-economy-bees-won-t-sell/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Frigideiro! " said Hermione again from the desk next to him. Her water was solid ice and there were white crystals forming on the rim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/frigideiro-said-hermione-again-from-the-desk-next-to-him-her-water/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And then Harry Potter had launched in to a speech that was inspiring, yet vague. A speech to the effect that Fred and George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-then-harry-potter-had-launched-in-to-a-speech-that-was-inspiring/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And I know that I'd just make myself unhappy by comparing that reality to... something perfect that I built up in my imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-i-know-that-i-d-just-make-myself-unhappy-by-comparing-that/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Explore all 274 Eliezer Yudkowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## More Note to self quotes > [Note to self: If you do not know how to spell a big scary spiders name, DO NOT look it up on the internet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-eisele/note-to-self-if-you-do-not-know-how-to-spell-a-big-scary-spiders-name/) [Becky Eisele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-eisele/) > [“I stared at MacFinn for a long moment. I believed that he was telling me the truth. That he didn’t have much control, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-stared-at-macfinn-for-a-long-moment-i-believed-that-he-was-telling/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Decebel looked over at Fane. "A face tu fiecare a lua ce ei say?(Do you ever get what they say?)" Fane smiled at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/decebel-looked-over-at-fane-a-face-tu-fiecare-a-lua-ce-ei-say-do-you/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [“Note to self...must back up my files daily...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mar-gerrison/note-to-self-must-back-up-my-files-daily/) [Heather Mar-Gerrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mar-gerrison/) > [Note to self: never participate in a trend about politics. Crazy people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-never-participate-in-a-trend-about-politics-crazy-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But three cheers for Alaska, they've got 24-hour hot fucking bear delivery. Note to self: Nuke Alaska.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mykle-hansen/but-three-cheers-for-alaska-they-ve-got-24-hour-hot-fucking-bear/) [Mykle Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mykle-hansen/) > [Note to self: Never ride a motorcycle in stilettos and a miniskirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-grace/note-to-self-never-ride-a-motorcycle-in-stilettos-and-a-miniskirt/) [Maggie Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-grace/) > [Note to self: When spraying hairspray, it's important to spray it into your hair, and NOT into the person's eyeballs next to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bailey/note-to-self-when-spraying-hairspray-it-s-important-to-spray-it-into/) [Candace Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bailey/) > [Note to self: Don't get on Veritas's bad side. She holds a grudge for centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/note-to-self-don-t-get-on-veritas-s-bad-side-she-holds-a-grudge-for/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Note to self: Smile, look happy and act like there is nothing wrong. People will just think you want attention anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-smile-look-happy-and-act-like-there-is-nothing-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The early Christians took this story and used it as the backdrop for the doctrine of ‘The Trinity.’ For me, though, this myth has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-overby/the-early-christians-took-this-story-and-used-it-as-the-backdrop-for/) [Eric Overby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-overby/) > [“Note to self: buy some nunchucks or something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/note-to-self-buy-some-nunchucks-or-something/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“Note to self: Always remember how lucky you are to wake up next to someone who thinks you're the shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/note-to-self-always-remember-how-lucky-you-are-to-wake-up-next-to/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [“Note to self: All you have to do is show up. Be late. Be scared. Be a mess. Be weird. Be confused. Just BE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanea-hoffman/note-to-self-all-you-have-to-do-is-show-up-be-late-be-scared-be-a/) [Nanea Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanea-hoffman/) > [Note to self: When it all falls down, God still stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hottiedevil/note-to-self-when-it-all-falls-down-god-still-stands/) [HOttieDeviL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hottiedevil/) [Browse all 125 Note to self quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-to-self/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at earliest convenience.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eliezer Yudkowsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-magical-britain-at-earliest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Note to self" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-magical-britain-at-earliest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_note-to-self_note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-mag_2719155.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Note to self: Overthrow government of magical Britain at earliest convenience.” — Eliezer Yudkowsky", "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": "Eliezer Yudkowsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Note to self: Overthrow government of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-magical-britain-at-earliest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/note-to-self-overthrow-government-of-magical-britain-at-earliest/#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 } } ] } ```