--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The oligarchs think that the people are…" description: "\"The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a good deal more dangerou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/gore-vidal-466_dangerous_the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are_18346.jpg" --- # The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and… ![“The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a good deal more dangerous to the polity than the people at large.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/gore-vidal-466_dangerous_the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are_18346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/gore-vidal-466_dangerous_the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are_18346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/gore-vidal-466_dangerous_the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are_18346.jpg) > “The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a good deal more dangerous to the polity than the people at large.” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that a small elite (oligarchs) pose a greater threat to society than the general populace, which they view as both risky and unintelligent. **In simple terms:** Elite power outweighs mass danger. Key Takeaway Beware of concentrated influence. Themes Power dynamics Elite vs. masses Political risk Societal safety Mood Cautious Critical Skeptical Type Political commentary Philosophical observation When to use this quote - Analyzing political systems - Discussing wealth inequality - Evaluating democratic health Key Concepts Oligarchy Public perception Political stability Practical Applications - Policy advocacy - Civic education Questions to Reflect On - How does elite control affect democratic institutions? - What mechanisms can limit oligarchic power? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Oligarchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Wars are fought for the benefit of oligarchs, triumphs bought with the blood of peons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/wars-are-fought-for-the-benefit-of-oligarchs-triumphs-bought-with-the/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Voting, the be all and end all of modern democratic politicians, has become a farce, if indeed it was ever anything else. By voting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/voting-the-be-all-and-end-all-of-modern-democratic-politicians-has/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [Industrial societies can only be run successfully by dictators or oligarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/industrial-societies-can-only-be-run-successfully-by-dictators-or/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [. . . this oligarchy of sex, which makes fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/this-oligarchy-of-sex-which-makes-fathers-brothers-husbands-and-sons/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Being an art buyer these days is comprehensively and indisputably vulgar. It is the sport of the Eurotrashy, Hedge-fundy, Hamptonites; of trendy oligarchs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/being-an-art-buyer-these-days-is-comprehensively-and-indisputably/) [Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/) > [After decades of systematic plundering of state property by corrupt oligarchs, the country needs a collective awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovenel-moise/after-decades-of-systematic-plundering-of-state-property-by-corrupt/) [Jovenel Moise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovenel-moise/) > [Poison Pill is a great reading. The novel ranges from Russian oligarchs to the American worlds of drug research and the equity markets, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/poison-pill-is-a-great-reading-the-novel-ranges-from-russian/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [Three times before, in the 1850s, the 1890s, and the 1920s, oligarchs took over the American government and threatened to destroy democracy. In each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/three-times-before-in-the-1850s-the-1890s-and-the-1920s-oligarchs/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [Every president needs to deal with the permanent government of the country, and the permanent government of the country is Wall Street oligarchs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/every-president-needs-to-deal-with-the-permanent-government-of-the/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The oligarchs do not care what justice is, only what seems just. They do not care what mercy is, only what appears merciful. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-oligarchs-do-not-care-what-justice-is-only-what-seems-just-they/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [If you want to go after Putin, go after his money and if you want to go after his money go after the oligarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/if-you-want-to-go-after-putin-go-after-his-money-and-if-you-want-to/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [I did not think the Oligarchy would allow Trump to win. However, it seems that the oligarchs were deceived by their own media propaganda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/i-did-not-think-the-oligarchy-would-allow-trump-to-win-however-it/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Americans overall may live better than medieval aristocrats could dream of, but that means nothing when oligarchs live in the neighborhood next door, flaunting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/americans-overall-may-live-better-than-medieval-aristocrats-could/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) > [“For example, the patroon system in New York State’s Hudson Valley, under which wealthy oligarchs such as the Rensselaer family extracted feudal rents from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-example-the-patroon-system-in-new-york-state-s-hudson-valley/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the time, Ukraine was an oligarch country. And all the time, oligarchs were together with the authorities. And this is the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petro-poroshenko/all-the-time-ukraine-was-an-oligarch-country-and-all-the-time/) [Petro Poroshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petro-poroshenko/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-societies-grow-decadent-the-language-grows-decadent-too-words-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/rome-at-its-most-decadent-had-never-thought-of-hiring-an-actor-to-go/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/sex-is-a-continuum-you-go-through-different-phases-along-life-s-way/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-do-not-admire-the-people-as-such-no-one-really-does-their-folk/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“One of the problems of a society as tightly controlled as ours is that we get so little information about what those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/one-of-the-problems-of-a-society-as-tightly-controlled-as-ours-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The New York Times is the worst in that hardly anybody can write English over there. Most of it reads like slight translations from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-new-york-times-is-the-worst-in-that-hardly-anybody-can-write/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Explore all 539 Gore Vidal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. 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