--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fascism is [...] arbitrary rule by a…" description: "\"Fascism is [...] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of state.\" — Tibor R. Machan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/tibor-r-machan-50735_arbitrary_fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismat_1736168.jpg" --- # Fascism is \[...\] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of… ![“Fascism is [...] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of state.” quote by Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/tibor-r-machan-50735_arbitrary_fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismat_1736168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/tibor-r-machan-50735_arbitrary_fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismat_1736168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/tibor-r-machan-50735_arbitrary_fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismat_1736168.jpg) > “Fascism is \[...\] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of state.” [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fascism relies on a charismatic leader’s personal will rather than rule law or institutions. **In simple terms:** Fascism is rule by a charismatic leader. Key Takeaway Beware of power concentrated in one person. Themes politics authoritarianism leadership Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government formation - social movements - political analysis Key Concepts charisma arbitrariness rule of law Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can prevent charismatic abuse? - How does rule of law protect societies? A Different Perspective Fascism can also arise from perceived crises, not just charisma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charismatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charismatic/) [Fascism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascism/) [Head of state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-of-state/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/by-giving-the-government-unlimited-powers-the-most-arbitrary-rule-can/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [A state that denies its citizens their basic rights becomes a danger to its neighbors as well: internal arbitrary rule will be reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-state-that-denies-its-citizens-their-basic-rights-becomes-a-danger/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-ratzel/arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the-strength-of-the-state-or-the/) Friedrich Ratzel > [“Myself, and the majority of officers in a position of command, will not execute unconditionally the orders of the Head of State.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-horne/myself-and-the-majority-of-officers-in-a-position-of-command-will-not/) [Alistair Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-horne/) > [Nobody defines it as something women shouldn't be doing. 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Machan > [Politicians are leaches, mostly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/politicians-are-leaches-mostly/) [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) > [Politicians are leeches, mostly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/politicians-are-leeches-mostly/) [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) > [This right to life, this right to liberty, and this right to pursue one's happiness is unabashedly individualistic, without in the slightest denying at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/this-right-to-life-this-right-to-liberty-and-this-right-to-pursue-one/) [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) > [If welfare and equality are to be primary aims of law, some people must necessarily possess a greater power of coercion in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/if-welfare-and-equality-are-to-be-primary-aims-of-law-some-people/) [Tibor R. 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Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. 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