--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dictators must have enemies. They must…" description: "\"Dictators must have enemies. They must have internal enemies to justify their secret police and external enemies to justify their military forces.\" — R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/richard-perle-18482_dictator_dictators-must-have-enemies-they-must-ha_2180574.png" --- # Dictators must have enemies. They must have internal… ![“Dictators must have enemies. They must have internal enemies to justify their secret police and external enemies to justify their military forces.” quote by Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/richard-perle-18482_dictator_dictators-must-have-enemies-they-must-ha_2180574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/richard-perle-18482_dictator_dictators-must-have-enemies-they-must-ha_2180574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/richard-perle-18482_dictator_dictators-must-have-enemies-they-must-ha_2180574.png) > “Dictators must have enemies. They must have internal enemies to justify their secret police and external enemies to justify their military forces.” [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dictators create both internal and external enemies to legitimize repression and military action. **In simple terms:** Dictators need enemies to justify power. Key Takeaway Question the narratives used to legitimize authority. Themes politics authoritarianism propaganda Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - military strategy Key Concepts state control security justification Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms expose hidden enemies? - How can societies resist manufactured threats? A Different Perspective Overlooks internal dissent that can arise spontaneously. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Dictators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators/) [Dictators Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictators-enemies-4708876/) [Enemies Internal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-internal-4708877/) [Enemies Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-justify-3274708/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Internal Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internal-enemies-2058064/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [All governments need enemies. How else to justify their existence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/all-governments-need-enemies-how-else-to-justify-their-existence/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The chief internal enemies of any state are those public officials who betray the trust imposed upon them by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/the-chief-internal-enemies-of-any-state-are-those-public-officials/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“He who has conquered his internal enemies, to such an Arihant, I bow down to them. Learn to recognize the inner enemies. Anger, pride,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/he-who-has-conquered-his-internal-enemies-to-such-an-arihant-i-bow/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The chief internal enemies of any state are not spies nor saboteurs nor the paid agents of foreign governments. They are, on the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/the-chief-internal-enemies-of-any-state-are-not-spies-nor-saboteurs/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [I think that, from Vaclav Havel own experience, he knew if we all paid attention to what was going on, the chances were that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/i-think-that-from-vaclav-havel-own-experience-he-knew-if-we-all-paid/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [The first thing dictators do is finish free press, to establish censorship. There is no doubt that a free press is the first enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/the-first-thing-dictators-do-is-finish-free-press-to-establish/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [Dictators can be deterred, they can be crushed - but they can never be appeased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/dictators-can-be-deterred-they-can-be-crushed-but-they-can-never-be/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Dictators are ludicrous characters, and, you know, in my career and in my life, I've always enjoyed sort of inhabiting these ludicrous, larger-than-life characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-baron-cohen/dictators-are-ludicrous-characters-and-you-know-in-my-career-and-in/) [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-baron-cohen/) > [Mobs and dictators were made for each other, and when mobs appear, dictators will soon flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/mobs-and-dictators-were-made-for-each-other-and-when-mobs-appear/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [When dictators and tyrants seek to destroy the freedoms of men, their first target is the legal profession and through it the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-jaworski/when-dictators-and-tyrants-seek-to-destroy-the-freedoms-of-men-their/) [Leon Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-jaworski/) > [As centuries of dictators have known, an illiterate crowd is the easiest to rule; since the craft of reading cannot be untaught once it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/as-centuries-of-dictators-have-known-an-illiterate-crowd-is-the/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > ['The End of America' details the 10 steps that would-be dictators always take in seeking to close an open society; it argued that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/the-end-of-america-details-the-10-steps-that-would-be-dictators/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/dictators-can-always-consolidate-their-tyranny-by-an-appeal-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [America has had to deal with eccentric dictators in the past: Idi Amin, Muammar Qaddafi, Ming the Merciless... but now the security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/america-has-had-to-deal-with-eccentric-dictators-in-the-past-idi-amin/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Dictators always look good until the last minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/dictators-always-look-good-until-the-last-minutes/) [Tomas Garrigue Masaryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/) ## More by Richard Perle > [In any event, the problem in Iran is much bigger than weapons. The problem is the terrorist regime that seeks the weapons. The regime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/in-any-event-the-problem-in-iran-is-much-bigger-than-weapons-the/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [George Tenet has been the director of central intelligence since 1997, time enough to have changed the Agency's culture. He has failed. He should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/george-tenet-has-been-the-director-of-central-intelligence-since-1997/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Dictatorships start wars because they need external enemies to exert internal control over their own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/dictatorships-start-wars-because-they-need-external-enemies-to-exert/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [We may be so eager to protect the right to dissent that we lose sight of the difference between dissent and subversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/we-may-be-so-eager-to-protect-the-right-to-dissent-that-we-lose-sight/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Iraq is a very wealthy country. Enormous oil reserves. They can finance, largely finance, the reconstruction of their own country. And I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/iraq-is-a-very-wealthy-country-enormous-oil-reserves-they-can-finance/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [No operational commander should have to assign a soldier a task that could be done as well by a computer, a remote sensor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/no-operational-commander-should-have-to-assign-a-soldier-a-task-that/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [If we just let our vision of the world go forth, and we embrace it entirely, and we don't try to piece together clever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/if-we-just-let-our-vision-of-the-world-go-forth-and-we-embrace-it/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [I think we have an administration today that is dysfunctional. And if it can't get itself together to organize a serious program for finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/i-think-we-have-an-administration-today-that-is-dysfunctional-and-if/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Even now, the irony that so non-intellectual a man should choose to engage the Soviet Union on the battlefield of ideas has eluded most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/even-now-the-irony-that-so-non-intellectual-a-man-should-choose-to/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [But if the UN cannot or will not revise its rules in ways that establish beyond question the legality of the measures the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/but-if-the-un-cannot-or-will-not-revise-its-rules-in-ways-that/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [We must do our utmost to preserve our British ally's strategic independence from Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/we-must-do-our-utmost-to-preserve-our-british-ally-s-strategic/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [National sovereignty is an obligation as well as an entitlement. A government that will not perform the role of a government forfeits the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/national-sovereignty-is-an-obligation-as-well-as-an-entitlement-a/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Law-abiding citizens value privacy. Terrorists require invisibility. The two are not the same, and they should not be confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/law-abiding-citizens-value-privacy-terrorists-require-invisibility/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [The jealousy and resentment that animate the terrorists also affect many of our former cold war allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/the-jealousy-and-resentment-that-animate-the-terrorists-also-affect/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Few governments in the world, for example, praise human rights more ardently than does the government of France, and few have a worse record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/few-governments-in-the-world-for-example-praise-human-rights-more/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) [Explore all 34 Richard Perle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) ## More Dictator quotes > [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/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Joe Paterno was a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/joe-paterno-was-a-dictator/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [I'm the type of actor that believes the director has to be in charge. I've been on sets where the actor's ego was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-m-the-type-of-actor-that-believes-the-director-has-to-be-in-charge/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I started understanding that my strength is my gentleness. A leader isn't a dictator, a leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/i-started-understanding-that-my-strength-is-my-gentleness-a-leader/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) [Browse all 771 Dictator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dictators must have enemies. 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