Dictatorship Quote by George Orwell
““One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.””
About This Quote
Source Book: 1984 by George Orwell, 1949
Power seeks its own justification; authority becomes the goal, not the means.
In simple terms: Power is self‑justifying.
Key Takeaway
Beware of power for its own sake.
Themes
politics
authority
revolution
persecution
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- activist movements
- legal reforms
- media narratives
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
self‑fulfilling prophecy
ethical paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power change its own purpose?
- When does protecting a cause become oppression?
A Different Perspective
Power can be abused when ends become means.
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