--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has always astonished me, Georgy…" description: "\"“It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or dictatorial rule are among the first to eliminate t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg" --- # It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that… ![“It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or dictatorial rule are among the first to eliminate their enemies once they take on the mantle of power themselves.” quote by John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg) > ““It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or dictatorial rule are among the first to eliminate their enemies once they take on the mantle of power themselves.”” [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who despise authoritarian rule often become the first to oppress others once they gain power. **In simple terms:** Oppressors can start as critics of oppression. Key Takeaway Watch for power’s corrupting influence. Themes politics power dynamics human nature Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political leadership - activism - organizational hierarchies Key Concepts authoritarianism psychology of power Questions to Reflect On - How does power change intentions? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Not all critics become oppressors; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocratic/) [Autocratic Dictatorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocratic-dictatorial-2373636/) [Daniilovich Repulsed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daniilovich-repulsed-3394590/) [Dictatorial Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorial-rule-2887860/) [John-boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-boyne-97509/) [Repulsed Autocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsed-autocratic-3394591/) [The-house-of-special-purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-house-of-special-purpose-187045/) ## Related quotes > [“It's enough to make me laugh. I close the door behind me and sit down again, considering this, and truly, I find it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-s-enough-to-make-me-laugh-i-close-the-door-behind-me-and-sit-down/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“I turned to leave and was exiting the gates when I heard the sound of feet running quickly along the gravel behind me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-turned-to-leave-and-was-exiting-the-gates-when-i-heard-the-sound-of/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I think the important point which I've been trying to get across is that Islam, from the very beginning, is strongly, clearly opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/i-think-the-important-point-which-i-ve-been-trying-to-get-across-is/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [“As James Heartfield, author of The European Union and the End of Politics, noted, to follow such events is to ‘Step through the looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hume/as-james-heartfield-author-of-the-european-union-and-the-end-of/) [Mick Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hume/) > [I always feel depressed when I go into a country under dictatorial rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-frommer/i-always-feel-depressed-when-i-go-into-a-country-under-dictatorial/) [Arthur Frommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-frommer/) > [“In the early 1970s the regime dropped a very clear official hint that a close relative would become Kim Il-sung’s successor. The 1970 edition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-k-martin/in-the-early-1970s-the-regime-dropped-a-very-clear-official-hint-that/) [Bradley K. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-k-martin/) > [The Great Depression saw some sections of the business and corporate class contemplate dictatorial rule in an effort to save capitalism from a 'socialist'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/the-great-depression-saw-some-sections-of-the-business-and-corporate/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Military or dictatorial rule is not good for our Pakistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/military-or-dictatorial-rule-is-not-good-for-our-pakistan/) [Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/) ## More by John Boyne > [“One single syllable of intimacy and the world is put to rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/one-single-syllable-of-intimacy-and-the-world-is-put-to-rights/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Bruno was jealous, he had to wear stupid pants en shoes while the boys at the other side of the fence were wearing nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/bruno-was-jealous-he-had-to-wear-stupid-pants-en-shoes-while-the-boys/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [ We all are \[normal\]. Their idea of normal just happens to be different to some other people's idea of normal. But this is the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/we-all-are-normal-their-idea-of-normal-just-happens-to-be-different/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Maybe there were no villains in my mother’s story at all. Just men and women, trying to do their best by each other. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/maybe-there-were-no-villains-in-my-mother-s-story-at-all-just-men-and/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I think that books for young people should have serious and important themes, they shouldn't be trivial. So the books I write, they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-think-that-books-for-young-people-should-have-serious-and-important/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Just because a man glances up at the sky at night does not make him an astronomer, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/just-because-a-man-glances-up-at-the-sky-at-night-does-not-make-him/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Every man is afraid of women as far as I can see,” said Julian, displaying an understanding of the universe far beyond his years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/every-man-is-afraid-of-women-as-far-as-i-can-see-said-julian/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I don't buy into the idea that an Irish writer should write about Ireland, or a gay writer should write about being gay. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-don-t-buy-into-the-idea-that-an-irish-writer-should-write-about/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“For a moment he considered running across the platform to tell people about the empty seats in the carriage, but he decided not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/for-a-moment-he-considered-running-across-the-platform-to-tell-people/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I move between the two: I write an adult novel, and then I write a children's book. I quite enjoy that. It's a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-move-between-the-two-i-write-an-adult-novel-and-then-i-write-a/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Pavel is not a doctor any more, Bruno' said Maria quietly. 'But he was. In another life. Before he came here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/pavel-is-not-a-doctor-any-more-bruno-said-maria-quietly-but-he-was-in/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [You’re my best friend, Shmuel,’ he said. ‘My best friend for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/you-re-my-best-friend-shmuel-he-said-my-best-friend-for-life/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Astonishing how everyone is willing to go abroad to fight for the rights of foreigners while having such little concern for those of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/astonishing-how-everyone-is-willing-to-go-abroad-to-fight-for-the/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Bruno opened his eyes in wonder at the things he saw. In his imagination he had tough that all the huts were full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/bruno-opened-his-eyes-in-wonder-at-the-things-he-saw-in-his/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I wrote my first book at 20, but my whole focus from about the age of 12 was to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-wrote-my-first-book-at-20-but-my-whole-focus-from-about-the-age-of/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) [Explore all 135 John Boyne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## More Autocratic quotes > [In the post-Soviet era, instead of freedom, various stripes of autocratic-totalitarianism have flourished: Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh... We are finding our way out from under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/in-the-post-soviet-era-instead-of-freedom-various-stripes-of/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [I've always been completely autocratic. I've never learned to be diplomatic or democratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parker/i-ve-always-been-completely-autocratic-i-ve-never-learned-to-be/) [Alan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parker/) > [Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/autocratic-governments-are-masters-of-self-contradiction-they-say-one/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/where-there-is-little-or-no-public-opinion-there-is-likely-to-be-bad/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [“An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion soon degenerates. For force always attract men of low morality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-opinion-soon-degenerates-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The checks and balances is a way to prevent government from either devolving into an autocratic tyranny or an autocratic mob mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/the-checks-and-balances-is-a-way-to-prevent-government-from-either/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [A republican government in a hundred points is weaker than an autocratic government; but in this one point it is the strongest that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-republican-government-in-a-hundred-points-is-weaker-than-an/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [No central planning, no autocratic rule and no military regime can produce what free man can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/no-central-planning-no-autocratic-rule-and-no-military-regime-can/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/i-played-a-lot-of-leaders-autocratic-sorts-perhaps-it-was-my-canadian/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [“If the master allows himself to be commanded by a servant, the latter becomes autocratic; the mind is similarly enslaved by submitting to bodily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-the-master-allows-himself-to-be-commanded-by-a-servant-the-latter/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Autocratic power requires the degradation of moral authority - not the capture of moral high ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/autocratic-power-requires-the-degradation-of-moral-authority-not-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Fashion is aristocratic-autocratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/fashion-is-aristocratic-autocratic/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/an-autocratic-system-of-coercion-in-my-opinion-soon-degenerates-for-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ You cannot apply your high standards to a country \[Egypt\] burdened with decades of autocratic rule. Our democracy is still in its infancy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/you-cannot-apply-your-high-standards-to-a-country-egypt-burdened-with/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) [Browse all 45 Autocratic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocratic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or dictatorial rule are among the first to eliminate their enemies once they take on the mantle of power themselves.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Boyne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-daniilovich-that-those-who-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autocratic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-daniilovich-that-those-who-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/john-boyne-2944_john-boyne_it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-danii_1170976.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It has always astonished me, Georgy Daniilovich, that those who are most repulsed by autocratic or…” — John Boyne", "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": "John Boyne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It has always astonished me, Georgy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-daniilovich-that-those-who-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/it-has-always-astonished-me-georgy-daniilovich-that-those-who-are/#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 } } ] } ```