--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must understand something, George…" description: "\"“You must understand something, George. The world's leaders create catastrophes and resolve them-- all at their own whimsy-- every single day. It is ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_common-people_you-must-understand-something-george-the_617723.jpg" --- # You must understand something, George. The world's leaders… ![“You must understand something, George. The world's leaders create catastrophes and resolve them-- all at their own whimsy-- every single day. It is how the world runs. Lacking anything else to believe in, common people need to believe in their leaders' abilities to save them. It's true! Their…” quote by Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_common-people_you-must-understand-something-george-the_617723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_common-people_you-must-understand-something-george-the_617723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/trenton-lee-stewart-4808_common-people_you-must-understand-something-george-the_617723.jpg) > ““You must understand something, George. The world's leaders create catastrophes and resolve them-- all at their own whimsy-- every single day. It is how the world runs. Lacking anything else to believe in, common people need to believe in their leaders' abilities to save them. It's true! Their emotional well-being-- and yes, their fate-- depends on the intelligence and skill of those who manipulate the days' disasters. And it should go without saying that the one who succeeds in taking the reins of leadership-- by whatever means-- is the most intelligent and skillful, and therefore most qualified to lead.”” [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders manipulate crises to maintain control, and people cling to them for security and hope. **In simple terms:** People depend on leaders during crises. Key Takeaway Question leaders wisely. Themes power control trust leadership psychology Mood cautious critical Type political psychological When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate crises - media narratives - personal decision making Key Concepts Manipulation authority dependence Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust leaders in crises? - How does fear shape loyalty? A Different Perspective Leaders may lack genuine competence despite perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Every single day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-single-day/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [He said he didn't very well understand how George was going to sleep any more than he did now, seeing that there were only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/he-said-he-didn-t-very-well-understand-how-george-was-going-to-sleep/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [In order to understand why George W. 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"Aren't these awesome?" he had said, pointing out photographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/decker-went-to-greece-a-few-summers-ago-and-showed-me-pictures-from/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) > [“If we believe that humanity may transcend tooth & claw, if we believe divers races & creeds can share this world as peaceably as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/if-we-believe-that-humanity-may-transcend-tooth-claw-if-we-believe/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [I personally believe that those who are leaders with political power over the world will be forced some day, sooner or later, to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alva-myrdal/i-personally-believe-that-those-who-are-leaders-with-political-power/) [Alva Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alva-myrdal/) > [If we believe that humanity may transcend tooth and claw, if we believe divers races & creeds can share this world as peaceably as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/if-we-believe-that-humanity-may-transcend-tooth-and-claw-if-we/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Before a community can prosper, the people must believe in their leaders. They must know that at the core of every decision is careful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lingle/before-a-community-can-prosper-the-people-must-believe-in-their/) [Linda Lingle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lingle/) > [“People try so hard to believe in leaders now, pitifully hard. But we no sooner get a popular reformer or politician or soldier or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/people-try-so-hard-to-believe-in-leaders-now-pitifully-hard-but-we-no/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [You want to believe in leaders, really believe in leaders. You want what they are saying to be truthful, and you want to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/you-want-to-believe-in-leaders-really-believe-in-leaders-you-want/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [“People have that believe that leaders are already made materials and thereby believing they don't have what it takes to lead;get up and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-kelechi/people-have-that-believe-that-leaders-are-already-made-materials-and/) [Uzoma Kelechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-kelechi/) > [I believe that leaders should inspire you to be more like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-believe-that-leaders-should-inspire-you-to-be-more-like-them/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) ## More by Trenton Lee Stewart > [You are the smartest children i know. You just don't beleive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/you-are-the-smartest-children-i-know-you-just-don-t-beleive-it/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/may-your-adventures-bring-you-closer-together-even-as-they-take-you/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/speaking-of-which-the-boys-weren-t-actually-touching-the-breifcases/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [In the candle's flickering light, the library's thousands of books emerged from the shadows, and for a moment Nicholas could not help admiring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/in-the-candle-s-flickering-light-the-library-s-thousands-of-books/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [She announced her age right away, for children consider their ages every bit as important as their names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/she-announced-her-age-right-away-for-children-consider-their-ages/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Milligan! Come and tell us why you're so dreadfully glum!" ~ Constance, The Mysterious Benedict Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/milligan-come-and-tell-us-why-you-re-so-dreadfully-glum-constance-the/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [It just supports my personal opinion that he's a wacko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/it-just-supports-my-personal-opinion-that-he-s-a-wacko/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Children are capable of such open rudeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/children-are-capable-of-such-open-rudeness/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Remember, children. For every exit, there is also an entrance. ~ Milligan, The Mysterious Benedict Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/remember-children-for-every-exit-there-is-also-an-entrance-milligan/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [I think when I started to write 'The Mysterious Benedict Society' that I had that kind of thing in mind - the notion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/i-think-when-i-started-to-write-the-mysterious-benedict-society-that/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Don't thank me,' Mr. Curtain called as the door slid closed. 'Impress me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/don-t-thank-me-mr-curtain-called-as-the-door-slid-closed-impress-me/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“Majesty the Queen)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/majesty-the-queen/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [If you like to tell stories and compose sentences, and if you work hard at being good at these things, then you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/if-you-like-to-tell-stories-and-compose-sentences-and-if-you-work/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Daddy, will you take me to the mill, again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/daddy-will-you-take-me-to-the-mill-again/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“Books had been her means of escape; now they would be her refuge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/books-had-been-her-means-of-escape-now-they-would-be-her-refuge/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) [Explore all 105 Trenton Lee Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) ## More Common people quotes > [“For rulers, religion is a great tool to rule the common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-rulers-religion-is-a-great-tool-to-rule-the-common-people/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Government not just for a few, it belongs to the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/government-not-just-for-a-few-it-belongs-to-the-common-people/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Adventure is the invitation to common people to become uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-miller/adventure-is-the-invitation-to-common-people-to-become-uncommon/) [Warren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-miller/) > [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/) [Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-wise-men-have-in-all-ages-thought-government-necessary-for-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/) Mark Yarnell > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [But-! I say! The common conventions of humanity-' 'Are all very well for common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-say-the-common-conventions-of-humanity-are-all-very-well-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People, the common people, can genuinely see what I'm doing. Moreover, people know that I have adopted four principles in living my life: simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/people-the-common-people-can-genuinely-see-what-i-m-doing-moreover/) [Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/) > [“In a sense the rise of Anabaptism was no surprise. Most revolutionary movements produce a wing of radicals who feel called of God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/in-a-sense-the-rise-of-anabaptism-was-no-surprise-most-revolutionary/) [Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/) [Browse all 297 Common people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You must understand something, George. The world's leaders create catastrophes and resolve them-- all at their own whimsy-- every single day. It is how the world runs. Lacking anything else to believe in, common people need to believe in their leaders' abilities to save them. It's true! Their emotional well-being-- and yes, their fate-- depends on the intelligence and skill of those who manipulate the days' disasters. 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