--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody can be trusted with unlimited…" description: "\"Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power a regime has, the more likely people will be killed. This is a major reason for promoting fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/rudolph-rummel-42992_freedom_nobody-can-be-trusted-with-unlimited-pow_1576011.jpg" --- # Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power… ![“Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power a regime has, the more likely people will be killed. This is a major reason for promoting freedom.” quote by Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/rudolph-rummel-42992_freedom_nobody-can-be-trusted-with-unlimited-pow_1576011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/rudolph-rummel-42992_freedom_nobody-can-be-trusted-with-unlimited-pow_1576011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/rudolph-rummel-42992_freedom_nobody-can-be-trusted-with-unlimited-pow_1576011.jpg) > “Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power a regime has, the more likely people will be killed. This is a major reason for promoting freedom.” [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. Unchecked power breeds oppression; limiting authority protects liberty. **In simple terms:** Unlimited power leads to oppression. Key Takeaway Support checks on power. Themes politics freedom authority Mood critical concerned Type political educational When to use this quote - policy making - human rights advocacy - education - activism Key Concepts totalitarianism political theory Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms best limit power? - How can societies balance security and freedom? A Different Perspective Power can be distributed without harming liberty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Unlimited power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited-power/) ## Related quotes > [ I \[have big plans\]. Promoting freedom around the world, particularly with women in the Middle East. Working on global disease. Working on accountability in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-have-big-plans-promoting-freedom-around-the-world-particularly-with/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It serves notice that President Bush is serious about promoting freedom, because free societies are a lot more peaceable than dictatorships and monarchies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/it-serves-notice-that-president-bush-is-serious-about-promoting/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [We should seek international support for our mutual objectives abroad, in promoting freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and also the elimination of weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/we-should-seek-international-support-for-our-mutual-objectives-abroad/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [Bush will keep up that policy that gives the United State the role of promoting freedom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/bush-will-keep-up-that-policy-that-gives-the-united-state-the-role-of/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [It is only through opening your hearts will you be able to see that by promoting freedom for all, you are unchaining yourself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/it-is-only-through-opening-your-hearts-will-you-be-able-to-see-that/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [ \[During the 20th century\] ... 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/) > [Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/) [Rudolph Rummel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-rummel/) > [It's your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/it-s-your-unlimited-power-to-care-and-to-love-that-can-make-the/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I was actually telling people that - by harnessing the atom - we could enter a new era of unlimited power that would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/i-was-actually-telling-people-that-by-harnessing-the-atom-we-could/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/there-is-nothing-more-corrupting-nothing-more-destructive-of-the/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [Unlimited power corrupts the possessor; and this I know, that, where law ends, there tyranny begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-corrupts-the-possessor-and-this-i-know-that-where-law/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Within all beings resides the unlimited power of the creative soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-corsen/within-all-beings-resides-the-unlimited-power-of-the-creative-soul/) Kate Corsen > [Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-is-apt-to-corrupt-the-minds-of-those-who-possess-it/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [I believe in the unlimited power of women in the context of science and engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-believe-in-the-unlimited-power-of-women-in-the-context-of-science/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) ## 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/) > [Concentrated political power is the most dangerous thing on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-rummel/concentrated-political-power-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-on-earth/) [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/) > [ \[During the 20th century\] ... 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 Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [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/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [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/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nobody can be trusted with unlimited power. The more power a regime has, the more likely people will be killed. 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