--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Concentrated political power is the most…" description: "\"Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.\" — Rudolph Rummel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg" --- # Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing… ![“Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.” quote by Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg) > “Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.” [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Concentrated political power poses the greatest danger to humanity **In simple terms:** Too much political power in one place is extremely risky Key Takeaway Advocate for checks and balances and power diffusion Themes politics danger concentration of power Mood cautionary serious urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - activism - education reform Key Concepts Political theory authoritarianism human rights Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms effectively prevent power concentration? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Power can be diffused but may create instability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Power is a dangerous thing. Be careful that you don't abuse it or let it make a tyrant of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/power-is-a-dangerous-thing-be-careful-that-you-don-t-abuse-it-or-let/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [If every small nation with a border dispute believes they can go ahead and launch a pre-emptive war and that it will be approved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-every-small-nation-with-a-border-dispute-believes-they-can-go/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Self-knowledge is a dangerous thing, tending to make man shallow or insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-shapiro/self-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-tending-to-make-man-shallow-or/) [Karl Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-shapiro/) > [The constant pressure to bring about conformity is a dangerous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-constant-pressure-to-bring-about-conformity-is-a-dangerous-thing/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [ \[A\] theory is a very dangerous thing to have. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/a-theory-is-a-very-dangerous-thing-to-have/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-little-knowledge-is-a-dangerous-thing-so-is-a-lot/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Religion is not a nice thing. It is potentially a very dangerous thing because it involves a heady complex of emotions, desires, yearnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religion-is-not-a-nice-thing-it-is-potentially-a-very-dangerous-thing/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Love is a dangerous thing, it can be great and it can be awful. It might make or break your life. It could even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-leto/love-is-a-dangerous-thing-it-can-be-great-and-it-can-be-awful-it/) [Shannon Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-leto/) > [Religion is a very dangerous thing. By that I mean being so caught up in rules and regulations and not focusing on the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/religion-is-a-very-dangerous-thing-by-that-i-mean-being-so-caught-up/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Love is the most dangerous thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/love-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the-world/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [When you know who you are, you know who you are. That's the real dangerous thing in Hollywood, because they all want to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/when-you-know-who-you-are-you-know-who-you-are-that-s-the-real/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [An audience is the most dangerous thing in the world, because they paid, and they're looking at you. And they paid! And there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/an-audience-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the-world-because-they/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [An intelligence that is not humane is the most dangerous thing in the world .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/an-intelligence-that-is-not-humane-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-to-take-any-one-impulse-of/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It is a dangerous thing to reform anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-a-dangerous-thing-to-reform-anyone/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Rudolph Rummel > [The way to virtually eliminate genocide and mass murder appears to be through restricting and checking power. This means to foster democratic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/the-way-to-virtually-eliminate-genocide-and-mass-murder-appears-to-be/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [Political scientists almost everywhere have promoted the expansion of government power. They have functioned as the clergy of oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/political-scientists-almost-everywhere-have-promoted-the-expansion-of/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [Power kills, absolute power kills absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/power-kills-absolute-power-kills-absolutely/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [To gauge the understanding and insight that metaphysics provides is to ask whether, in the final analysis, it helps us to cope with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/to-gauge-the-understanding-and-insight-that-metaphysics-provides-is/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power a regime has, the more likely people will be killed. This is a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/nobody-can-be-trusted-with-unlimited-power-the-more-power-a-regime/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [ \[During the 20th century\] ... 170 million men, women, and children have been shot, beaten, tortured, knifed, burned, starved, frozen, crushed, or worked to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/during-the-20th-century-170-million-men-women-and-children-have-been/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [Our knowledge and our ability to handle our problems progress through the open conflict of ideas, through the tests of phenomenological adequacy, inner consistency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/our-knowledge-and-our-ability-to-handle-our-problems-progress-through/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [The more power a government has the more it can act arbitrarily according to the whims and desires of the elite, and the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/the-more-power-a-government-has-the-more-it-can-act-arbitrarily/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [We have a solution for war. It is to expand the sphere of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/we-have-a-solution-for-war-it-is-to-expand-the-sphere-of-liberty/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) [Explore all 10 Rudolph Rummel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. 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And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The more people that learn about you, even if you're an underdog, then you can come under fire a lot and the more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-more-people-that-learn-about-you-even-if-you-re-an-underdog-then/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rudolph Rummel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dangerous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab3/rudolph-rummel-42992_dangerous_concentrated-political-power-is-the-most_931594.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.” — Rudolph Rummel", "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": "Rudolph Rummel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Concentrated political power is the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/#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 } } ] } ```