--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Universal, equal, direct and secret…" description: "\"Universal, equal, direct and secret elections in the U.S.S.R. will be a whip in the hands of the population against poorly functioning organs of govern..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_universal-equal-direct-and-secret-electi_1403244.jpg" --- # Universal, equal, direct and secret elections in the… ![“Universal, equal, direct and secret elections in the U.S.S.R. will be a whip in the hands of the population against poorly functioning organs of government.” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_universal-equal-direct-and-secret-electi_1403244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_universal-equal-direct-and-secret-electi_1403244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/912/joseph-stalin-1734_democracy_universal-equal-direct-and-secret-electi_1403244.jpg) > “Universal, equal, direct and secret elections in the U.S.S.R. will be a whip in the hands of the population against poorly functioning organs of government.” [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 could become a tool for the populace to control ineffective government organs **In simple terms:** Elections as a populist check Key Takeaway Use elections to empower citizens against corruption Themes politics control democracy Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - local governance - reform movements - civil society initiatives Key Concepts Power dynamics public accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can elections truly empower the people? - What safeguards prevent manipulation? A Different Perspective Implementation may be hindered by power structures ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [Unified party control of the organs of government has proved no panacea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-price/unified-party-control-of-the-organs-of-government-has-proved-no/) [David Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-price/) > [The process of creating new, democratic organs of government power is beginning, and, as never before, the greatest responsibility rests with the broadcast media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-process-of-creating-new-democratic-organs-of-government-power-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Not a few organizations exist in our country which function poorly. Sometimes it happens that this or that local government or organ have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/not-a-few-organizations-exist-in-our-country-which-function-poorly/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Direct elections on the spot to all representative organs, up to the supreme organ, are a better guarantee of the interests of the working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/direct-elections-on-the-spot-to-all-representative-organs-up-to-the/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Return to Shaoshan I regret the passing, the dying, of the vague dream: my native orchards thirty-two years ago. Yet red banners roused the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/return-to-shaoshan-i-regret-the-passing-the-dying-of-the-vague-dream/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [The storm lashes us, out of the confusion of grey and yellow the hail of splinters whips forth the childlike cries of the wounded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-storm-lashes-us-out-of-the-confusion-of-grey-and-yellow-the-hail/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [A big business man was telling Henry Ford about a coach driver of super-expertness with his whip. The driver was telling how he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-big-business-man-was-telling-henry-ford-about-a-coach-driver-of/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [It's easy to whip up resentment against anything that smacks with authority. Nobody ever organizes over pan handlers. So even if a cop is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/it-s-easy-to-whip-up-resentment-against-anything-that-smacks-with/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/but-for-a-soldier-his-duty-is-plain-he-is-to-obey-the-orders-of-all/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Think of it! A second chamber selected by the Whips. A seraglio of eunuchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/think-of-it-a-second-chamber-selected-by-the-whips-a-seraglio-of/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-mcclellan/here-is-a-paper-with-which-if-i-cannot-whip-bobbie-lee-i-will-be/) [George B. McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-b-mcclellan/) > [And now, what has Anarchism to say to all this, this bankruptcy of republicanism, this modern empire that has grown up on the ruins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/and-now-what-has-anarchism-to-say-to-all-this-this-bankruptcy-of/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I ache for the touch of your lips dear, but much more for the touch of your whips dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-ache-for-the-touch-of-your-lips-dear-but-much-more-for-the-touch-of/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) ## 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. 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