--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's certain is that a totalitarian…" description: "\"What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's can't continue to exist, so change will definitely come there, eventually.\" — Vaclav Havel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg" --- # What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's… ![“What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's can't continue to exist, so change will definitely come there, eventually.” quote by Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg) > “What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's can't continue to exist, so change will definitely come there, eventually.” [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Totalitarian regimes are unsustainable; change is inevitable despite oppression **In simple terms:** Oppressive regimes eventually collapse Key Takeaway Support movements that promote freedom Themes politics human rights change authoritarianism Mood serious hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political reform - human rights advocacy - education campaigns Key Concepts Cuban context historical analysis activism Questions to Reflect On - What can individuals do to accelerate change? - How to sustain hope under repression? A Different Perspective Change may be slow and face setbacks ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuba/) [Totalitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarian/) ## Related quotes > [What I really like about Cuba is that you can go into a local bar in a provincial town and you'll get jazz played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-i-really-like-about-cuba-is-that-you-can-go-into-a-local-bar-in/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I'd like to go to Cuba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elian-gonzalez/i-d-like-to-go-to-cuba/) [Elian Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elian-gonzalez/) > [The Castro government is disproportionately white given the color of the island. It doesn't look like Cuba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-falcoff/the-castro-government-is-disproportionately-white-given-the-color-of/) [Mark Falcoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-falcoff/) > [It's absurd. We would all like to see Cuba move toward civil society and free markets and greater respect for human rights. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-smith/it-s-absurd-we-would-all-like-to-see-cuba-move-toward-civil-society/) Wayne Smith > [I've been able to accomplish goals that I set for myself, where in countries like Cuba you just don't get those opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/i-ve-been-able-to-accomplish-goals-that-i-set-for-myself-where-in/) [Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/) > [When you see my performances, even people that you might have known, like Nicky Barnes in 'American Gangster,' you have to get over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/when-you-see-my-performances-even-people-that-you-might-have-known/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [For me, sexual identity and orientation is a human right, which should also be accepted by the United Nations. Of course, innovations in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariela-castro/for-me-sexual-identity-and-orientation-is-a-human-right-which-should/) [Mariela Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariela-castro/) > [“The Baxter house sparkled with multicolored lights and evergreen garlands draped with icicles. The piney scent of a real Christmas tree mixed with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-diaz-gonzalez/the-baxter-house-sparkled-with-multicolored-lights-and-evergreen/) [Christina Diaz Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-diaz-gonzalez/) > [I've never been anywhere in my life like it and I only really noticed it when I returned to Los Angeles and then Berlin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/i-ve-never-been-anywhere-in-my-life-like-it-and-i-only-really-noticed/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [I have read somewhere that in a totalitarian system martyrdom does better than thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-have-read-somewhere-that-in-a-totalitarian-system-martyrdom-does/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Those who rebelled against totalitarian rule and those who simply managed to remain themselves and think freely, were all persecuted. We should not forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/those-who-rebelled-against-totalitarian-rule-and-those-who-simply/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People who live in the post-totalitarian system know only too well that the question of whether one or several political parties are in power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-who-live-in-the-post-totalitarian-system-know-only-too-well/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [“This was laughable, of course, but that’s always the way with totalitarian regimes. Language gets turned on its head. Serfdom is freedom. Repression is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/this-was-laughable-of-course-but-that-s-always-the-way-with/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) ## More by Vaclav Havel > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People who live in the post-totalitarian system know only too well that the question of whether one or several political parties are in power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-who-live-in-the-post-totalitarian-system-know-only-too-well/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [“For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/for-by-this-very-fact-individuals-confirm-the-system-fulfill-the/) [Václav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Hope is not a feeling of certainty that everything ends well. Hope is just a feeling that life and work have a meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/hope-is-not-a-feeling-of-certainty-that-everything-ends-well-hope-is/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [This is a confusing and uncertain period, when a thousand wise words can go completely unnoticed, and one thoughtless word can provoke an utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/this-is-a-confusing-and-uncertain-period-when-a-thousand-wise-words/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [If by believing you mean praying to an anthropomorphic deity who created the world and half controls it and half observes it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/if-by-believing-you-mean-praying-to-an-anthropomorphic-deity-who/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, but they can be compelled to do so only because they are in fact capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/human-beings-are-compelled-to-live-within-a-lie-but-they-can-be/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Our country, if that is what we want, can now permanently radiate love, understanding, the power of the spirit and of ideas. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/our-country-if-that-is-what-we-want-can-now-permanently-radiate-love/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [I cannot imagine that I could strive for something if I did not carry hope in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-cannot-imagine-that-i-could-strive-for-something-if-i-did-not-carry/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People, your Government has returned to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-your-government-has-returned-to-you/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [A person who has been seduced by the consumer value system, whose identity is dissolved in an amalgam of the accouterments trappings of mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-person-who-has-been-seduced-by-the-consumer-value-system-whose/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Whether all is really lost or not depends entirely on whether or not I am lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/whether-all-is-really-lost-or-not-depends-entirely-on-whether-or-not/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Sober perseverance is more effective than enthusiastic emotions, which are all too capable of being transferred, with little difficulty, to something different each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/sober-perseverance-is-more-effective-than-enthusiastic-emotions-which/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The exercise of power is determined by thousands of interactions between the world of the powerful and that of the powerless, all the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/the-exercise-of-power-is-determined-by-thousands-of-interactions/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It's not true that you should first think up an idea for a better world and only then "put it into practice," but, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/it-s-not-true-that-you-should-first-think-up-an-idea-for-a-better/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) [Explore all 190 Vaclav Havel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's can't continue to exist, so change will definitely come there, eventually.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vaclav Havel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-enclave-like-cuba-s-can-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-enclave-like-cuba-s-can-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/vaclav-havel-2013_certain_what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-en_1835668.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's certain is that a totalitarian enclave like Cuba's can't continue to exist, so change will definitely…” — Vaclav Havel", "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": "Vaclav Havel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's certain is that a totalitarian...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-enclave-like-cuba-s-can-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/what-s-certain-is-that-a-totalitarian-enclave-like-cuba-s-can-t/#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 } } ] } ```