--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One more thing: the regime is a show that…" description: "\"“One more thing: the regime is a show that conceals what in reality is chaos. What looks orderly and restrictive is in fact disorganized and inefficien..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/masha-gessen-2322_regime_one-more-thing-the-regime-is-a-show-that_447083.jpg" --- # One more thing: the regime is a show that conceals what in… ![“One more thing: the regime is a show that conceals what in reality is chaos. What looks orderly and restrictive is in fact disorganized and inefficient. Obviously, this does not lead to order. On the contrary, people feel acutely lost, in time and space among other things. As everywhere in the…” quote by Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/masha-gessen-2322_regime_one-more-thing-the-regime-is-a-show-that_447083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/masha-gessen-2322_regime_one-more-thing-the-regime-is-a-show-that_447083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/masha-gessen-2322_regime_one-more-thing-the-regime-is-a-show-that_447083.jpg) > ““One more thing: the regime is a show that conceals what in reality is chaos. What looks orderly and restrictive is in fact disorganized and inefficient. Obviously, this does not lead to order. On the contrary, people feel acutely lost, in time and space among other things. As everywhere in the country, a person does not know where to go with a particular problem. So he goes to the head of the detention facility. That’s like taking your problem to Putin outside of jail. When we describe the system in our lyrics— I guess you could say we are not really opposed— We are in opposition to Putinist chaos, which is a regime in name only. When”” [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The regime appears orderly but actually creates chaos, leaving people lost and forced to seek help from ineffective authorities. **In simple terms:** The state pretends order but is chaotic, causing confusion. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist superficial order that hides dysfunction. Themes politics authoritarianism illusion disorder resistance Mood frustrated defiant critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - seeking justice - activism - community organizing - personal coping strategies Key Concepts statecraft psychology of control systemic inefficiency Questions to Reflect On - How does perceived order affect your trust in institutions? - What steps can you take when faced with systemic inefficiency? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize all bureaucratic systems as chaotic, ignoring functional institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaos Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos-regime-3909362/) [Putinist Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putinist-chaos-3909365/) [Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime/) [Regime Conceals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime-conceals-3909364/) [Thing Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-regime-3909363/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) ## Related quotes > [“every totalitarian regime forms a type of human being on whom it relies for its stability. The shaping of the New Man is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/every-totalitarian-regime-forms-a-type-of-human-being-on-whom-it/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [When totalitarian regimes are established, they at least have the illusion of the single-minded purpose. But once they establish the stature that's necessary for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/when-totalitarian-regimes-are-established-they-at-least-have-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“The Soviet regime robbed people not only of their ability to live freely but also of the ability to understand fully what had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/the-soviet-regime-robbed-people-not-only-of-their-ability-to-live/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first of some of the institutions that said they would not accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-general-musharraf-took-over-the-bar-association-was-among-the/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [You need to understand, if you take out a government, take out a regime, guess who becomes the government and regime and is responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-need-to-understand-if-you-take-out-a-government-take-out-a-regime/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Let's face reality. To ensure Hong Kong remains competitive, we have to uphold a very low tax regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/let-s-face-reality-to-ensure-hong-kong-remains-competitive-we-have-to/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Throughout the day, I'll make a lot of green smoothies or salads, and then when I travel, I try my hardest to just keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-zelyaeva/throughout-the-day-i-ll-make-a-lot-of-green-smoothies-or-salads-and/) [Valentina Zelyaeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-zelyaeva/) > [Were we ever to find ourselves living under a totalitarian regime, place no faith in the mercy of your fellow citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/were-we-ever-to-find-ourselves-living-under-a-totalitarian-regime/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-worry-a-little-bit-about-quote-regime-change-we-haven-t-had-a-great/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Dentists, doctors, surveyors from Latvia wanted to come to England, do anything to get away from the Soviet regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-martin/dentists-doctors-surveyors-from-latvia-wanted-to-come-to-england-do/) [Guy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-martin/) > [My beauty regime is very simple. I just take my make-up off before bed. And oh, I always put moisturiser on. But that's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hawes/my-beauty-regime-is-very-simple-i-just-take-my-make-up-off-before-bed/) [Keeley Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hawes/) > [We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/we-very-clearly-do-not-want-an-authoritarian-regime-setting-standards/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [Clearly if the United States' relationship with Cuba changed, which would require a regime change inside Cuba, if Cuba moved towards a more democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/clearly-if-the-united-states-relationship-with-cuba-changed-which/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [It's with them that we have constituted a liberation front and brought our logistic support to armies to help their countries come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/it-s-with-them-that-we-have-constituted-a-liberation-front-and/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) ## More by Masha Gessen > [There's this American pretense, which is the pretense of the journalist with the view from nowhere - which has somehow morphed into the journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/there-s-this-american-pretense-which-is-the-pretense-of-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Where incompetence is prized, it is ever-present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/where-incompetence-is-prized-it-is-ever-present/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/pussy-riot-have-certainly-changed-some-people-s-assumptions-about-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Trump, like Putin, has a demonstrably thin skin and short temper when it comes to being criticized by journalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/trump-like-putin-has-a-demonstrably-thin-skin-and-short-temper-when/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [You risk everything if you so much as join a legal protest demonstration in Russia. It raises the stakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/you-risk-everything-if-you-so-much-as-join-a-legal-protest/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Donald Trump creates word salads. And that is awful to language, because we try to parse out what he's saying and try to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/donald-trump-creates-word-salads-and-that-is-awful-to-language/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [It is the first time since 1993 that Russians have come out into the streets without an explicit permission from the government to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/it-is-the-first-time-since-1993-that-russians-have-come-out-into-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I think Donald Trump was brought to power by Americans. They voted for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-donald-trump-was-brought-to-power-by-americans-they-voted-for/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [In the 1990s, there was a lot of reform, and there was a lot of forward movement on a lot of fronts in Russia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/in-the-1990s-there-was-a-lot-of-reform-and-there-was-a-lot-of-forward/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Poverty and scarcity are actually very good for totalitarian societies. They maintain that sense of mobilization that's essential for totalitarian societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/poverty-and-scarcity-are-actually-very-good-for-totalitarian/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I think that Putin's strategy has been throwing a lot of money, fairly haphazardly, at a lot of projects aimed at disrupting Western relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-that-putin-s-strategy-has-been-throwing-a-lot-of-money-fairly/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Both Trump and Putin use language primarily to communicate not facts or opinions but power: it's not what the words mean that matters but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/both-trump-and-putin-use-language-primarily-to-communicate-not-facts/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I worked both as a Russian journalist and an American journalist and ran a bunch of magazines in Moscow over the course of about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-worked-both-as-a-russian-journalist-and-an-american-journalist-and/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [For years I was the only publicly out gay person who was not a full-time gay activist: my position as a quasi-foreigner gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/for-years-i-was-the-only-publicly-out-gay-person-who-was-not-a-full/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Explore all 171 Masha Gessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) ## More Regime quotes > [It's with them that we have constituted a liberation front and brought our logistic support to armies to help their countries come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/it-s-with-them-that-we-have-constituted-a-liberation-front-and/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [Clearly if the United States' relationship with Cuba changed, which would require a regime change inside Cuba, if Cuba moved towards a more democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/clearly-if-the-united-states-relationship-with-cuba-changed-which/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/we-very-clearly-do-not-want-an-authoritarian-regime-setting-standards/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [My beauty regime is very simple. I just take my make-up off before bed. And oh, I always put moisturiser on. But that's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hawes/my-beauty-regime-is-very-simple-i-just-take-my-make-up-off-before-bed/) [Keeley Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hawes/) > [Dentists, doctors, surveyors from Latvia wanted to come to England, do anything to get away from the Soviet regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-martin/dentists-doctors-surveyors-from-latvia-wanted-to-come-to-england-do/) [Guy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-martin/) > [I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-worry-a-little-bit-about-quote-regime-change-we-haven-t-had-a-great/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Were we ever to find ourselves living under a totalitarian regime, place no faith in the mercy of your fellow citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/were-we-ever-to-find-ourselves-living-under-a-totalitarian-regime/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [Throughout the day, I'll make a lot of green smoothies or salads, and then when I travel, I try my hardest to just keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-zelyaeva/throughout-the-day-i-ll-make-a-lot-of-green-smoothies-or-salads-and/) [Valentina Zelyaeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-zelyaeva/) > [Let's face reality. To ensure Hong Kong remains competitive, we have to uphold a very low tax regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/let-s-face-reality-to-ensure-hong-kong-remains-competitive-we-have-to/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [You need to understand, if you take out a government, take out a regime, guess who becomes the government and regime and is responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-need-to-understand-if-you-take-out-a-government-take-out-a-regime/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first of some of the institutions that said they would not accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-general-musharraf-took-over-the-bar-association-was-among-the/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Therefore, once U.S. forces leave, it is almost inevitable that an anti-Western, anti-U.S. regime will arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-odom/therefore-once-u-s-forces-leave-it-is-almost-inevitable-that-an-anti/) [William Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-odom/) > [As much as the South African racist regime is prepared to fight to the last man, so are we determined to fight to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-madikizela-mandela/as-much-as-the-south-african-racist-regime-is-prepared-to-fight-to/) [Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-madikizela-mandela/) > [The violence associated with the A.N.C. is minimal, infinitesimal next to the violence of the apartheid regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-violence-associated-with-the-a-n-c-is-minimal-infinitesimal-next/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) [Browse all 251 Regime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One more thing: the regime is a show that conceals what in reality is chaos. 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