--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dictators are not in the business of…" description: "\"Dictators are not in the business of allowing elections that could remove them from their thrones.\" — Gene Sharp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gene-sharp-18306_business_dictators-are-not-in-the-business-of-all_2450371.jpg" --- # Dictators are not in the business of allowing elections… ![“Dictators are not in the business of allowing elections that could remove them from their thrones.” quote by Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gene-sharp-18306_business_dictators-are-not-in-the-business-of-all_2450371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gene-sharp-18306_business_dictators-are-not-in-the-business-of-all_2450371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gene-sharp-18306_business_dictators-are-not-in-the-business-of-all_2450371.jpg) > “Dictators are not in the business of allowing elections that could remove them from their thrones.” [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dictators avoid elections because they threaten their power, not because they fear democracy. **In simple terms:** Tyrants suppress voting to stay in control. Key Takeaway Promote transparent, fair electoral systems. Themes power authoritarianism democracy Mood cautionary determined Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - election monitoring - voter education - activist training - policy reform Key Concepts political strategy human rights civil resistance Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens protect electoral integrity? - What alternatives exist to authoritarian rule? A Different Perspective Opposition can be violently suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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. 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Even when they're asleep, they're afraid that others will take their powers away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangcheng/dictators-are-actually-very-fearful-themselves-even-when-they-re/) [Chen Guangcheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangcheng/) ## More by Gene Sharp > [There’s one thing that’s been 'learned' maybe from Tunisia and Egypt that I think is a mistake. And that is that the existing ruler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/there-s-one-thing-that-s-been-learned-maybe-from-tunisia-and-egypt/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [Nonviolent action involves opposing the opponent's power, including his police and military capacity, not with the weapons chosen by him but by quite different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/nonviolent-action-involves-opposing-the-opponent-s-power-including/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“In some cases, however, limited violence against the dictatorship may be inevitable. Frustration and hatred of the regime may explode into violence. Or, certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/in-some-cases-however-limited-violence-against-the-dictatorship-may/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“Liberation from dictatorships ultimately depends on the people's ability to liberate themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/liberation-from-dictatorships-ultimately-depends-on-the-people-s/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“Engage in friendly creative communication with the functionaries and troops serving the putschists while continuing resistance. 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It will be used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/violence-by-the-defenders-will-be-used-by-the-putschists-to-justify/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [Nonviolent struggle is the most powerful means available to those struggling for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/nonviolent-struggle-is-the-most-powerful-means-available-to-those/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [The degree of liberty or tyranny in any government is, it follows, in large degree a reflection of the relative determination of the subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/the-degree-of-liberty-or-tyranny-in-any-government-is-it-follows-in/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“As Charles Stewart Parnell called out during the Irish rent strike campaign in 1879 and 1880: It is no use relying on the Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/as-charles-stewart-parnell-called-out-during-the-irish-rent-strike/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [Dictatorships are never as strong as they think they are, and people are never as weak as they think they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/dictatorships-are-never-as-strong-as-they-think-they-are-and-people/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [By placing confidence in violent means, one has chosen the very type of struggle with which the oppressors nearly always have superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/by-placing-confidence-in-violent-means-one-has-chosen-the-very-type/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“Nonviolent defiance often risks serious casualities, but it seem to produce far fewer casualitie than when both sides use violence. 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