--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dictating to dictators doesn't work; they…" description: "\"Dictating to dictators doesn't work; they are congenitally delusional about their own indispensability.\" — Joe Klein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/joe-klein-12661_delusional_dictating-to-dictators-doesn-t-work-they_1647062.png" --- # Dictating to dictators doesn't work; they are congenitally… ![“Dictating to dictators doesn't work; they are congenitally delusional about their own indispensability.” quote by Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/joe-klein-12661_delusional_dictating-to-dictators-doesn-t-work-they_1647062.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/joe-klein-12661_delusional_dictating-to-dictators-doesn-t-work-they_1647062.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/joe-klein-12661_delusional_dictating-to-dictators-doesn-t-work-they_1647062.png) > “Dictating to dictators doesn't work; they are congenitally delusional about their own indispensability.” [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful leaders who cannot accept criticism are driven by self‑importance, making them resistant to advice. **In simple terms:** Dictators ignore advice because they see themselves as essential. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of influencing the entrenched. Themes leadership power ego Mood frustrated critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - political negotiations - organizational change - activism - media strategy Key Concepts psychology authority delusion Questions to Reflect On - How can you frame feedback to appeal to a dictator’s self‑interest? - What alternative approaches bypass ego? A Different Perspective Even dictators may respond if their self‑interest is threatened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congenitally Delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congenitally-delusional-617726/) [Delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusional/) [Delusional Indispensability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusional-indispensability-617727/) [Dictating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictating/) [Dictating Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictating-dictators-617724/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Dictators Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators-doesn-617725/) [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) ## Related quotes > [How do these people have any credibility? How do they get away with this? It's mind boggling that its gotten to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastardi/how-do-these-people-have-any-credibility-how-do-they-get-away-with/) [Joe Bastardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastardi/) > [There's a difference between, you know, God loves unconditionally in my feeling and religion loves conditionally. 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First you decide that the doctor can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-doctor-begins-to-lose-freedoms-it-s-like-telling-a-lie-and-one/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If any generation of men ever possessed the right of dictating the mode by which the world should be governed for ever, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-any-generation-of-men-ever-possessed-the-right-of-dictating-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The ways of change are dictated by the circumstances of each country, each place and each time. I don't think that arrogant intellectuals should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/the-ways-of-change-are-dictated-by-the-circumstances-of-each-country/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [For so long, companies were run using a command-and-control, 'top down' hierarchical method that involved dictating down the command chain and maintaining order. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/for-so-long-companies-were-run-using-a-command-and-control-top-down/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [I find dictating in the mass media particularly good because you're writing for voice anyway; you're writing for people to say a line and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-find-dictating-in-the-mass-media-particularly-good-because-you-re/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [ We are not dictating. We are not telling them \[Saudi Arabia\] how they should do it or who they should look like. 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But please do not worry. I can assure you, I am quite good at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/of-course-i-will-be-dictating-to-you-savannah-but-please-do-not-worry/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Personal religious convictions have no place in political campaigns or in dictating public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/personal-religious-convictions-have-no-place-in-political-campaigns/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I truly want what you truly want-nothing different and nothing more. Don't you see that is My greatest gift to you? If I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-truly-want-what-you-truly-want-nothing-different-and-nothing-more/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## More by Joe Klein > [You know, when George Bush talks about freedom not being America's gift to world but God's gift to all humankind, it smells like market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-when-george-bush-talks-about-freedom-not-being-america-s/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [When I started in the press there were really ink-stained wretches. Not everybody went to college. Now, everybody at the New York Times and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/when-i-started-in-the-press-there-were-really-ink-stained-wretches/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [In 2012 there was a megafoolish, if well-funded, effort by a group called Americans Elect to raise an independent Cincinnatus to run for president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-2012-there-was-a-megafoolish-if-well-funded-effort-by-a-group/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [We journalists are never so idiotic as when we analyze things that we shouldn't be analyzing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/we-journalists-are-never-so-idiotic-as-when-we-analyze-things-that-we/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [You know, larger-than-life politicians have larger-than-life strengths and larger-than-life weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-larger-than-life-politicians-have-larger-than-life-strengths/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I believe that poverty is often the result of inappropriate behavior - out-of-wedlock births, dropping out of school, crime and drugs - which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-that-poverty-is-often-the-result-of-inappropriate-behavior/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [That was the miracle of Abraham Lincoln, politician. He pursued the high purpose of moving justice forward via the low arts of patronage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/that-was-the-miracle-of-abraham-lincoln-politician-he-pursued-the/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [For me, a really radical position for journalism to take is to stop being cynical. Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/for-me-a-really-radical-position-for-journalism-to-take-is-to-stop/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [Affirmative action was always racial justice on the cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/affirmative-action-was-always-racial-justice-on-the-cheap/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I'm in favour of politicians having extra-marital relationships. Oh yeah. It makes them more understanding of the flaws that the rest of us have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-m-in-favour-of-politicians-having-extra-marital-relationships-oh/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I believe, I believe that the people who voted in those primaries for Donald Trump were at least helping him along with his message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-i-believe-that-the-people-who-voted-in-those-primaries-for/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [“Faith, unaccompanied by rigorous skepticism, is a recipe for myopia and foolishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/faith-unaccompanied-by-rigorous-skepticism-is-a-recipe-for-myopia-and/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [This dilettante notion that the global economy is evil because big corporate leaders make too much money... they do make too much money, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/this-dilettante-notion-that-the-global-economy-is-evil-because-big/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [I got into journalism because I came of age in the '60s. It just seemed one way for me to get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-got-into-journalism-because-i-came-of-age-in-the-60s-it-just-seemed/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) [Explore all 54 Joe Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) ## More Delusional quotes > [High school sucked. 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Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-levin/) > [When someone is delusional, there is no point wasting time responding to their delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/when-someone-is-delusional-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-responding/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [I was putting on a stiff upper lip and trying to fulfill the obligations I thought were demanded of me, taking over my father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-was-putting-on-a-stiff-upper-lip-and-trying-to-fulfill-the/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It is a truth universally acknowledged that a delusional Housewife in possession of an audience must be in want of a ludicrous storyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-delusional-housewife-in/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [I'm always amazed when I hear people saying, "That George Bush, he's a great leader". And I wonder, where can one find a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-m-always-amazed-when-i-hear-people-saying-that-george-bush-he-s-a/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [“free will (noun): A delusional idea that humans are in control of their own destiny and not subject to the benevolent rule of The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/free-will-noun-a-delusional-idea-that-humans-are-in-control-of-their/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I think it's perfectly acceptable and rather admirable to be moderately delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-think-it-s-perfectly-acceptable-and-rather-admirable-to-be/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [Only the most saintly and delusional among us welcomes all pain as challenge, perceives all loss as harsh blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-jurek/only-the-most-saintly-and-delusional-among-us-welcomes-all-pain-as/) [Scott Jurek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-jurek/) > [“Call me a pussy if you want. 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