--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is authoritarianism and it quickly…" description: "\"“That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult, which is what Scientology is today. Ever”\" — Ron Miscavige" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg" --- # That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult… ![“That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult, which is what Scientology is today. Ever” quote by Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg) > ““That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult, which is what Scientology is today. Ever”” [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authoritarianism can evolve into a cult-like organization, as seen with Scientology. **In simple terms:** Power can become dogmatic and unquestioned. Key Takeaway Watch for signs of unchecked authority. Themes authoritarianism cult dynamics power Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - workplace hierarchies - political parties - online communities Key Concepts social control groupthink religious movements Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy leadership from cultism? - What mechanisms prevent power abuse? A Different Perspective Not all groups labeled authoritarian are cults. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authoritarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarianism/) [Authoritarianism Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarianism-quickly-5743122/) [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Cult Scientology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult-scientology-5743123/) [Quickly Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly-cult-5743124/) ## Related quotes > [“The fact that the stupid person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent. In conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-fact-that-the-stupid-person-is-often-stubborn-must-not-blind-us/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Subconsciously it is possible to act, consciously it is possible to decide and overconsciously to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/subconsciously-it-is-possible-to-act-consciously-it-is-possible-to/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [It has been well over half a century and I'm glad to say we have taken the right path from authoritarianism to democracy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/it-has-been-well-over-half-a-century-and-i-m-glad-to-say-we-have/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-have-power-our-power-isn-t-in-a-political-system-or-a-religious/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [“I have been called arrogant myself in my time, and hope to earn the title again, but to claim that I am privy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-have-been-called-arrogant-myself-in-my-time-and-hope-to-earn-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Democracy can exist only in the countries where people are brave! Coward nations always live under the authoritarian regimes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/democracy-can-exist-only-in-the-countries-where-people-are-brave/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The libertarian can have no truck with 'left' or 'right' because he regrets any form of authoritarianism - the use of police force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-libertarian-can-have-no-truck-with-left-or-right-because-he/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Therapy requires a collaborative working relationship in which both partners act on the basis of their implicit confidence in the value and efficacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/therapy-requires-a-collaborative-working-relationship-in-which-both/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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/) ## More by Ron Miscavige > [“A person can choose to live a fruitful, productive life helping people, and I firmly believe that you get the most benefit out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/a-person-can-choose-to-live-a-fruitful-productive-life-helping-people/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) > [“I came up with a theory: pain must need your attention to exist. If you can direct your attention away from the pain, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/i-came-up-with-a-theory-pain-must-need-your-attention-to-exist-if-you/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) > [“Hold on a minute, I thought to myself, there is something really, really wrong here. That he would have me followed and allow me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/hold-on-a-minute-i-thought-to-myself-there-is-something-really-really/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) > [“Rather than concentrating on the substance of Scientology, the church today is focused merely on appearances. It just demands donations to fund fancy buildings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/rather-than-concentrating-on-the-substance-of-scientology-the-church/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) > [“When you stop dreaming, you die a little, a wise man once said. Is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/when-you-stop-dreaming-you-die-a-little-a-wise-man-once-said-is/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) > [“Nelson Mandela spoke the God’s honest truth when he said that holding on to anger is like drinking poison and hoping the other person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/nelson-mandela-spoke-the-god-s-honest-truth-when-he-said-that-holding/) [Ron Miscavige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) [Explore all 7 Ron Miscavige quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/) ## More Authoritarianism 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/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“Therapy requires a collaborative working relationship in which both partners act on the basis of their implicit confidence in the value and efficacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/therapy-requires-a-collaborative-working-relationship-in-which-both/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [The libertarian can have no truck with 'left' or 'right' because he regrets any form of authoritarianism - the use of police force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-libertarian-can-have-no-truck-with-left-or-right-because-he/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Democracy can exist only in the countries where people are brave! Coward nations always live under the authoritarian regimes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/democracy-can-exist-only-in-the-countries-where-people-are-brave/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I have been called arrogant myself in my time, and hope to earn the title again, but to claim that I am privy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-have-been-called-arrogant-myself-in-my-time-and-hope-to-earn-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-have-power-our-power-isn-t-in-a-political-system-or-a-religious/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It has been well over half a century and I'm glad to say we have taken the right path from authoritarianism to democracy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/it-has-been-well-over-half-a-century-and-i-m-glad-to-say-we-have/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [Subconsciously it is possible to act, consciously it is possible to decide and overconsciously to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/subconsciously-it-is-possible-to-act-consciously-it-is-possible-to/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [We must nevertheless present all possible interpretations for each observation, so that competing theories can be formulated and defended. In science, as elsewhere, intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-reeves/we-must-nevertheless-present-all-possible-interpretations-for-each/) [Hubert Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-reeves/) [Browse all 233 Authoritarianism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarianism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult, which is what Scientology is today. Ever”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Miscavige" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly-becomes-a-cult-which-is-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authoritarianism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly-becomes-a-cult-which-is-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/520/ron-miscavige-52551_quote_that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly_1541702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That is authoritarianism and it quickly becomes a cult, which is what Scientology is today. Ever” — Ron Miscavige", "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": "Ron Miscavige", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-miscavige/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That is authoritarianism and it quickly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly-becomes-a-cult-which-is-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-miscavige/that-is-authoritarianism-and-it-quickly-becomes-a-cult-which-is-what/#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 } } ] } ```