---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All governments like the ignorant…"
description: "\"All governments like the ignorant, because their existence depends on them! If the society becomes wise, governments cannot survive, at least the bad o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg"
---

#  All governments like the ignorant, because their existence…

![“All governments like the ignorant, because their existence depends on them! If the society becomes wise, governments cannot survive, at least the bad ones cannot!” quote by Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg)

> “All governments like the ignorant, because their existence depends on them! If the society becomes wise, governments cannot survive, at least the bad ones cannot!”

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Governments thrive on public ignorance; a wise populace would render them obsolete, especially corrupt ones.

**In simple terms:** Governments need uninformed people; wise societies would outgrow them.

Key Takeaway

Promote education and civic engagement.

Themes

politics ignorance power society corruption

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- elections
- public policy debates
- community organizing
- media literacy

Key Concepts

social contract authority democracy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens stay informed without becoming cynical?
- What alternatives to government exist?

A Different Perspective

Even educated societies may still need governance structures for coordination.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [“A man must be ignorant of himself before he can be ignorant of the existence of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-symington/a-man-must-be-ignorant-of-himself-before-he-can-be-ignorant-of-the/)

[William Symington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-symington/)

> [Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/governments-like-clocks-go-from-the-motion-men-give-them-and-as/)

[William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/)

> [Governments like China and the United Arab Emirates are investing heavily in AI and see it as a competitive advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-el-kaliouby/governments-like-china-and-the-united-arab-emirates-are-investing/)

[Rana el Kaliouby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-el-kaliouby/)

> [That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-wise-men-have-in-all-ages-thought-government-necessary-for-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“And the people under the sky were also very much the same...everywhere, all over the world, hundreds or thousands of millions of people just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-the-people-under-the-sky-were-also-very-much-the-same-everywhere/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [“people ignorant of one another’s existence, held apart by walls of hatred and lies, and yet almost exactly the same—people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/people-ignorant-of-one-another-s-existence-held-apart-by-walls-of/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [“He concluded that governments were like wars: the reasons and the forces might change, but it was still the same dying over the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/he-concluded-that-governments-were-like-wars-the-reasons-and-the/)

[Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/)

> [Governments do not like to face radical remedies; it is easier to let politics predominate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/governments-do-not-like-to-face-radical-remedies-it-is-easier-to-let/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Unfortunately for governments like that of Iran, when they forbid something, people become more interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/unfortunately-for-governments-like-that-of-iran-when-they-forbid/)

[Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/)

> [Governments are like underwear. They start smelling pretty bad if you don't change them once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-murray/governments-are-like-underwear-they-start-smelling-pretty-bad-if-you/)

[Margaret Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-murray/)

> [There are always two kinds of people in every country: Progressives and reactionaries; wise people and ignorant; democrats and fascists; libertarians and oppressive. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-are-always-two-kinds-of-people-in-every-country-progressives/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Ignorant, unconscious and dishonourable part of a society want and like kings, dictators, padishahs and all sort of despots; educated, conscious and honourable part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/ignorant-unconscious-and-dishonourable-part-of-a-society-want-and/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [For the ignorant, even the most stupid things can be accepted as the most perfect! They can easily declare a blockheaded as a genius!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/for-the-ignorant-even-the-most-stupid-things-can-be-accepted-as-the/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Master Michelangelo once said that 'I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.' This is what we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/master-michelangelo-once-said-that-i-saw-the-angel-in-the-marble-and/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Every single moment, an ignorant discovers an idea that has been known for centuries!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/every-single-moment-an-ignorant-discovers-an-idea-that-has-been-known/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More by Mehmet Murat Ildan

> [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Via your talents, you can go beyond the limits!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/via-your-talents-you-can-go-beyond-the-limits/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Even in a remote monastery, you may still be remote from the truth! To find the truth, all you need is a sound way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-in-a-remote-monastery-you-may-still-be-remote-from-the-truth-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [History respects revolutions; and yet, if a revolution is progressive, support it; if it is reactionary, resist it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/history-respects-revolutions-and-yet-if-a-revolution-is-progressive/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Face the truth or the truth will face you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/face-the-truth-or-the-truth-will-face-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

[Explore all 4,007 Mehmet Murat Ildan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## More Depends quotes

> [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Surely to root politics out of art is a highly necessary undertaking: for the freedom of art, like that of science, depends entirely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/surely-to-root-politics-out-of-art-is-a-highly-necessary-undertaking/)

[Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [What my day is like depends on where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-pestova/what-my-day-is-like-depends-on-where-i-am/)

[Daniela Pestova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-pestova/)

> [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/)

[Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/)

> [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Nothing will happen automatically. Change depends on what you and I do every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/nothing-will-happen-automatically-change-depends-on-what-you-and-i-do/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [Every crucial experience can be regarded either as a setback, or the start of a wonderful new adventure, it depends on your perspective!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/every-crucial-experience-can-be-regarded-either-as-a-setback-or-the/)

[Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/)

> [Unless we are prepared to search our souls to discover what to say, and then how to say it effectively, we cannot expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-case/unless-we-are-prepared-to-search-our-souls-to-discover-what-to-say/)

Everett Case

> [What you can do and what it became the Depends are Only your Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/what-you-can-do-and-what-it-became-the-depends-are-only-your-attitude/)

Mak\_786

> [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/)

[Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/)

Browse all 3,689 Depends quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All governments like the ignorant, because their existence depends on them! If the society becomes wise, governments cannot survive, at least the bad ones cannot!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mehmet Murat Ildan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/all-governments-like-the-ignorant-because-their-existence-depends-on/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Depends"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/all-governments-like-the-ignorant-because-their-existence-depends-on/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_depends_all-governments-like-the-ignorant-becaus_2184815.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All governments like the ignorant, because their existence depends on them! If the society becomes wise…” — Mehmet Murat Ildan",
                "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": "Mehmet Murat Ildan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All governments like the ignorant, because...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/all-governments-like-the-ignorant-because-their-existence-depends-on/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/all-governments-like-the-ignorant-because-their-existence-depends-on/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
