---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sanctions make a substantial contribution…"
description: "\"Sanctions make a substantial contribution to power based on privation, and they have never hurt a single despot in the whole history of their use.\" — R..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/roger-scruton-971_contribution_sanctions-make-a-substantial-contributio_2689056.jpg"
---

#  Sanctions make a substantial contribution to power based…

![“Sanctions make a substantial contribution to power based on privation, and they have never hurt a single despot in the whole history of their use.” quote by Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/roger-scruton-971_contribution_sanctions-make-a-substantial-contributio_2689056.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/roger-scruton-971_contribution_sanctions-make-a-substantial-contributio_2689056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/roger-scruton-971_contribution_sanctions-make-a-substantial-contributio_2689056.jpg)

> “Sanctions make a substantial contribution to power based on privation, and they have never hurt a single despot in the whole history of their use.”

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

## About This Quote

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

Sanctions are portrayed as ineffective against powerful leaders, suggesting they only harm ordinary people, not dictators.

**In simple terms:** Sanctions rarely hurt dictators.

Key Takeaway

Seek alternative diplomatic tools.

Themes

politics power economics

Mood

analytical critical

Type

academic political

When to use this quote

- foreign policy
- human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

sanctions authoritarianism

Questions to Reflect On

- When have sanctions been effective?
- What alternatives exist?

A Different Perspective

May ignore cases where sanctions succeeded.

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[Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/)

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