--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The guiding principle of ruling elites…" description: "\"The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is: When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed.\" — Michael Pare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg" --- # The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is… ![“The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is: When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed.” quote by Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg) > “The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is: When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed.” [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When elites feel threatened, they alter rules to preserve their dominance, revealing a pattern of self‑preservation. **In simple terms:** Elites change rules to stay in power when challenged. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant about how power reshapes laws. Themes politics power change rule‑making control Mood critical analytical Type political observational When to use this quote - policy analysis - activist strategy - legal reform - media critique Key Concepts elite behavior rule manipulation self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can prevent rule‑changing by elites? - How does this pattern affect democratic institutions? A Different Perspective Changing rules can erode trust and fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Threatens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-threatens-296353/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Elites Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites-change-3667403/) [Guiding Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-principle-289471/) [Guiding principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-principles/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Rules Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-changed-532770/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Ruling Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-elites-1459724/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) ## Related quotes > [When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/when-change-threatens-to-rule-then-the-rules-are-changed/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The guiding principle of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be IN GOD WE TRUST.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-guiding-principle-of-this-nation-has-been-is-now-and-ever-shall/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I love the term "everything is copy," attributed to Nora Ephron, which was my guiding principle as I wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-love-the-term-everything-is-copy-attributed-to-nora-ephron-which/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [I think the guiding principle for me is working with people, because I don't know how long it's going to last, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/i-think-the-guiding-principle-for-me-is-working-with-people-because-i/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [I sort of use as my guiding principle that show The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Whenever possible, do the stupid thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-sort-of-use-as-my-guiding-principle-that-show-the-fall-and-rise-of/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I think that the most significant, guiding principle was that we wanted to return to a three-piece live form, whereas we became a four-piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cain/i-think-that-the-most-significant-guiding-principle-was-that-we/) [Chris Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cain/) > [My guiding principle as president has been to try to do the right thing even when it's not politically convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-guiding-principle-as-president-has-been-to-try-to-do-the-right/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The assumption that things which have been conjured in the past will always be conjured in the guiding principle not of rational but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-assumption-that-things-which-have-been-conjured-in-the-past-will/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [What will be required to increase the quality of life and health is a coming together of technology and values, based on a scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-childre/what-will-be-required-to-increase-the-quality-of-life-and-health-is-a/) [Doc Childre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-childre/) > [“Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at a time. Be honest and sincere. Do what’s right. There’s nothing magical about this.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winning-one-customer-at-a-time-be/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [The only guiding principle you can use is to make something that you want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tull/the-only-guiding-principle-you-can-use-is-to-make-something-that-you/) [Thomas Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tull/) > [Move forward and let others do the same. Simple. This is a guiding principle everyone should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/move-forward-and-let-others-do-the-same-simple-this-is-a-guiding/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [There is no guiding principle, because the work that is created in collaborations should be created from its own principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eyvind-kang/there-is-no-guiding-principle-because-the-work-that-is-created-in/) [Eyvind Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eyvind-kang/) > [My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/my-guiding-principle-will-be-justice-and-complete-impartiality-and-i/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [Find that thing you are super passionate about. A lot of founding principles of Facebook are that if people have access to more information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/find-that-thing-you-are-super-passionate-about-a-lot-of-founding/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) ## More by Michael Pare > [Profits are what you make when not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/profits-are-what-you-make-when-not-working/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [Conservative pundits have a remarkable amount of free speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/conservative-pundits-have-a-remarkable-amount-of-free-speech/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [The media have been tireless in their efforts to suppress the truth about the gangster state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-media-have-been-tireless-in-their-efforts-to-suppress-the-truth/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [Those who control the wealth of this society have an influence over political life far in excess of their number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/those-who-control-the-wealth-of-this-society-have-an-influence-over/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [It may come as a surprise to some academics, but there is a marked relationship between economic power and political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/it-may-come-as-a-surprise-to-some-academics-but-there-is-a-marked/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [Twelve states in the Great Plains have a wind energy potential greater then the electric use of our entire nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/twelve-states-in-the-great-plains-have-a-wind-energy-potential/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [The real danger we face is not from terrorism but what is being done under the pretext of fighting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-real-danger-we-face-is-not-from-terrorism-but-what-is-being-done/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [The mass media are class media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-mass-media-are-class-media/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [Radical views that are outside the mainstream generally (but not always) are more reliable than the dominant view because they are more regularly challenged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/radical-views-that-are-outside-the-mainstream-generally-but-not/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [One does not have to be a Marxist to know there is something very wrong in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/one-does-not-have-to-be-a-marxist-to-know-there-is-something-very/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) > [If the test of patriotism comes only by reflexively falling into lockstep behind the leader whenever the flag is waved, then what we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/if-the-test-of-patriotism-comes-only-by-reflexively-falling-into-2/) [Michael Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) [Explore all 12 Michael Pare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is: When change threatens to rule, then the rules are changed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Pare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-was-and-still-is-when-change/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-was-and-still-is-when-change/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/michael-pare-38228_change_the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-w_2022038.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The guiding principle of ruling elites was--and still is: When change threatens to rule, then the rules are…” — Michael Pare", "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": "Michael Pare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The guiding principle of ruling elites...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-was-and-still-is-when-change/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pare/the-guiding-principle-of-ruling-elites-was-and-still-is-when-change/#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 } } ] } ```