--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was Che’s dictum that it was better to…" description: "\"“It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one hundred innocent men, than to allow one clever traitor to live to challenge the revolution. In ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/matthew-bracken-42626_justice_it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-t_1716058.jpg" --- # It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one… ![“It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one hundred innocent men, than to allow one clever traitor to live to challenge the revolution. In the furtherance of the glorious cause of promoting social justice, the ends always justified the means. A generation later in South Africa, Winnie…” quote by Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/matthew-bracken-42626_justice_it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-t_1716058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/matthew-bracken-42626_justice_it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-t_1716058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/matthew-bracken-42626_justice_it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-t_1716058.jpg) > ““It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one hundred innocent men, than to allow one clever traitor to live to challenge the revolution.  In the furtherance of the glorious cause of promoting social justice, the ends always justified the means. A generation later in South Africa, Winnie Mandela had updated the method of execution for greater public impact.  At her orders, her followers had introduced the gasoline-filled automobile tire “necklace” to the world, punishing suspected collaborators with the most agonizing death imaginable.”” [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that extreme violent measures are justified to protect a revolution, citing historical examples of brutal tactics used to suppress dissent. **In simple terms:** Violence is defended as necessary for revolutionary goals. Key Takeaway Question the morality of ends justifying means. Themes politics violence revolution ethics historical justice Mood critical somber Type historical ethical When to use this quote - political activism - policy debate - educational curricula - media reporting Key Concepts utilitarianism state power terrorism human rights Questions to Reflect On - Can a cause remain noble if its methods are immoral? - How do societies reconcile past violence with present values? A Different Perspective Justifying atrocities can erode moral authority and lead to cycles of violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) ## Related quotes > [Since I was a law student, I have been against the death penalty. It does not deter. 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In South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/nelson-mandela-was-in-jail-when-i-was-really-young-and-winnie-mandela/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [“A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I want to see Nelson walking down the streets of South Africa; I want to see him walking hand-in-hand with Winnie Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-want-to-see-nelson-walking-down-the-streets-of-south-africa-i-want/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [It's hard not to question whether the harsh verdict of Winnie Mandela is a reflection of discomfort with women warriors or, more broadly, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/it-s-hard-not-to-question-whether-the-harsh-verdict-of-winnie-mandela/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [It takes balls to execute an innocent man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-takes-balls-to-execute-an-innocent-man/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I had an awkward moment when I got a phone call from the person pretending to be Winnie Mandela. 'Winnie' sounded about 12 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-veitch/i-had-an-awkward-moment-when-i-got-a-phone-call-from-the-person/) [James Veitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-veitch/) > [The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, "Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-famous-passage-from-her-book-is-often-erroneously-attributed-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Mandela did go to prison, and he went in there as a burning revolutionary. But look what came out. 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It will continue to inspire freedom fighters and give confidence to people who defend just causes and universal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/mandela-s-message-will-never-die-it-will-continue-to-inspire-freedom/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gallegos-borresen/our-human-compassion-binds-us-the-one-to-the-other-not-in-pity-or/) Michael Gallegos Borresen > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Matthew Bracken > [“National security was invoked so freely that the First Amendment had become an empty promise. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/national-security-was-invoked-so-freely-that-the-first-amendment-had/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“sighed in resignation, having long since given up on today’s youth and their utter historical illiteracy, a product of their deliberate educational brainwashing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/sighed-in-resignation-having-long-since-given-up-on-today-s-youth-and/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Even in a revolutionary movement, most people are like sheep.  They are naturally afraid, and like sheep, they have to be led.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/even-in-a-revolutionary-movement-most-people-are-like-sheep-they-are/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“All of these new “Big Brother” laws had been sold under the guise of combating terrorism and increasing security, but none of them dared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/all-of-these-new-big-brother-laws-had-been-sold-under-the-guise-of/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“In reality, there was no truly free press in America anymore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/in-reality-there-was-no-truly-free-press-in-america-anymore/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“watched in mounting frustration, as the perversely named Patriot Acts (One and Two) had become law.  Then came the Total Information Awareness program, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/watched-in-mounting-frustration-as-the-perversely-named-patriot-acts/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Gun control was never about safety: it was just about taking power away from ordinary Americans,” said Carson.  “It’s to make it safe for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/gun-control-was-never-about-safety-it-was-just-about-taking-power/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“America really is two countries today.  One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist, even if they don’t call it that—yet. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/america-really-is-two-countries-today-one-half-still-loves-freedom/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Unknown to the sleeping family, three of their cell phones had been covertly switched on, providing the STU with interior audio listening devices paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/unknown-to-the-sleeping-family-three-of-their-cell-phones-had-been/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) [Explore all 10 Matthew Bracken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) ## More Execution quotes > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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Execution is everything. It takes a team to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doerr/ideas-are-easy-execution-is-everything-it-takes-a-team-to-win/) [John Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doerr/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. 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Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [If there were no executioners, there would be no executions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-there-were-no-executioners-there-would-be-no-executions/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Basketball, like all sports, is predicated on the execution of fundamentals. The coach is a teacher. His subject: fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ramsay/basketball-like-all-sports-is-predicated-on-the-execution-of/) [Jack Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ramsay/) > [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. 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