--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is enough that the people know there…" description: "\"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_it-is-enough-that-the-people-know-there_1906723.jpg" --- # It is enough that the people know there was an election… ![“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_it-is-enough-that-the-people-know-there_1906723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_it-is-enough-that-the-people-know-there_1906723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_it-is-enough-that-the-people-know-there_1906723.jpg) > “It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elections are superficial; real power lies with those who count the votes. **In simple terms:** Elections are a façade; vote counters hold power. Key Takeaway Question the legitimacy of electoral processes. Themes politics authoritarianism elections Mood skeptical serious Type political critical When to use this quote - civic education - electoral reform - journalism Key Concepts power concentration democratic illusion Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure vote integrity? - What mechanisms prevent vote manipulation? A Different Perspective Some may argue counts are transparent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/the-people-who-cast-the-votes-don-t-decide-an-election-the-people-who/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [The people who cast the votes decide nothing; the people who count the votes decide everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-who-cast-the-votes-decide-nothing-the-people-who-count-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-enough-that-the-people-know-there-was-an-election-the-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Political power does not rest with those who cast votes; political power rests with those who count votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/political-power-does-not-rest-with-those-who-cast-votes-political/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Democracy means that if this man,you Miss and I will be trapped on an island, we having a majority of votes will decide that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korwin-mikke/democracy-means-that-if-this-man-you-miss-and-i-will-be-trapped-on-an/) [Janusz Korwin-Mikke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korwin-mikke/) > [I never know from one election to the next who's going to be in office, but I know who's on the throne. And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-johnson-jr/i-never-know-from-one-election-to-the-next-who-s-going-to-be-in/) [Ernie Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-johnson-jr/) > [Its the details and the human element that makes Recount entertaining. Even though we know how the election ends, it plays like a thriller.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-the-details-and-the-human-element-that-makes-recount-entertaining/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Both sides know the last election was just the beginning of the next election. It's clear there has been no attempt to have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-keene/both-sides-know-the-last-election-was-just-the-beginning-of-the-next/) David Keene > [An election in which people have to wait 10 hours to vote, or in which black voters wait in the rain for hours, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/an-election-in-which-people-have-to-wait-10-hours-to-vote-or-in-which/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Every time there's an election, people start to criticize China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/every-time-there-s-an-election-people-start-to-criticize-china/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [So Americans do want their presidents, by and large, you want them to be people who get things done and have experience. That's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/so-americans-do-want-their-presidents-by-and-large-you-want-them-to/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [As a general rule it's not good to jump onto too much analysis of an election 24 hours after people have cast votes. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/as-a-general-rule-it-s-not-good-to-jump-onto-too-much-analysis-of-an/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [History shows that people often do cast their votes for amorphous reasons-the most powerful among them being the need for change. Just ask Bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/history-shows-that-people-often-do-cast-their-votes-for-amorphous/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I think people cast their votes for a number of reasons. I think if you look at your polls, you'll probably find that many,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-think-people-cast-their-votes-for-a-number-of-reasons-i-think-if/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [ \[American Communist Party\] legally exists in the U.S.A., it nominates its candidates in the elections, including Presidential elections. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/american-communist-party-legally-exists-in-the-u-s-a-it-nominates-its/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## More by Joseph Stalin > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [There is no nation in the whole world desiring war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/there-is-no-nation-in-the-whole-world-desiring-war/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Our Red Army now needs IL-2 aircraft like the air it breathes, like the bread it eats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/our-red-army-now-needs-il-2-aircraft-like-the-air-it-breathes-like/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [If things should go too far and deportation of all whiteguard emigres from the United States were demanded, this would be an attempt against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/if-things-should-go-too-far-and-deportation-of-all-whiteguard-emigres/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [We think that a powerful and vigorous movement is impossible without differences - "true conformity" is possible only in the cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/we-think-that-a-powerful-and-vigorous-movement-is-impossible-without/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ \[American Communist Party\] legally exists in the U.S.A., it nominates its candidates in the elections, including Presidential elections. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/american-communist-party-legally-exists-in-the-u-s-a-it-nominates-its/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [“Gratitude is an illness suffered by dogs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/gratitude-is-an-illness-suffered-by-dogs/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [A man's eyes should be torn out if he can only see the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/a-man-s-eyes-should-be-torn-out-if-he-can-only-see-the-past/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/one-death-is-a-tragedy-a-million-is-a-statistic/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/education-is-a-weapon-whose-effect-depends-on-who-holds-it-in-his/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [To slacken the tempo...would mean falling behind. And those who fall behind get beaten...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/to-slacken-the-tempo-would-mean-falling-behind-and-those-who-fall/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [You do not lament the loss of hair of one who has been beheaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/you-do-not-lament-the-loss-of-hair-of-one-who-has-been-beheaded/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [The Red Army and Navy and the whole Soviet people must fight for every inch of Soviet soil, fight to the last drop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/the-red-army-and-navy-and-the-whole-soviet-people-must-fight-for/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ I admit that I do not recall the speeches of Comrades \[Earl\] Browder and \[Samuel\] Darcy. I do not even recall of what they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/i-admit-that-i-do-not-recall-the-speeches-of-comrades-earl-browder/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [He who casts a vote decides nothing. He who counts the vote decides everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/he-who-casts-a-vote-decides-nothing-he-who-counts-the-vote-decides/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) [Explore all 208 Joseph Stalin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. 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