--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The departments are shit; decrees are shit." description: "\"“The departments are shit; decrees are shit.”\" — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg" --- # The departments are shit; decrees are shit. ![“The departments are shit; decrees are shit.” quote by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg) > ““The departments are shit; decrees are shit.”” [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses deep frustration with bureaucratic inefficiency and oppressive regulations. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy is terrible. Key Takeaway Challenge and reform oppressive systems. Themes politics bureaucracy revolution frustration Mood critical defiant Type political revolutionary When to use this quote - government agencies - workplace policies - legal systems Key Concepts political theory organizational behavior social change Questions to Reflect On - What can individuals do to reduce bureaucratic waste? - Are there effective alternatives to top‑down decrees? A Different Perspective Reforms may be limited by entrenched power structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decrees-330951/) [Decrees Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decrees-shit-5820628/) [Departments Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departments-shit-5820630/) [Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shit/) [Shit Decrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shit-decrees-5820629/) ## Related quotes > [“Isaiah 10Doom to those who pronounce wicked decrees, and keep writing harmful laws 2to deprive the needy of their rights and to rob the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/isaiah-10doom-to-those-who-pronounce-wicked-decrees-and-keep-writing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These decrees of yours are no different from spiders' webs. They'll restrain anyone weak and insignificant who gets caught in them, but they'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anacharsis/these-decrees-of-yours-are-no-different-from-spiders-webs-they-ll/) [Anacharsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anacharsis/) > [There is no etiquette rule that decrees one must give out personal information to anyone who asks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/there-is-no-etiquette-rule-that-decrees-one-must-give-out-personal/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [The August Decrees were an improvised parliamentary reaction to an emergency situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-furet/the-august-decrees-were-an-improvised-parliamentary-reaction-to-an/) [Francois Furet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-furet/) > [I don't have the power to issue papal decrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/i-don-t-have-the-power-to-issue-papal-decrees/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [Still we did not expect to be without rubs and difficulties; and we have had them. First the detention of Western posts: then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/still-we-did-not-expect-to-be-without-rubs-and-difficulties-and-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Federal consent decrees - agreements between the federal government and a local agency to change how that agency operates - are burdensome, costly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mac-donald/federal-consent-decrees-agreements-between-the-federal-government-and/) [Heather Mac Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mac-donald/) > [“I do not have to tell you there has been a disappointing retreat of progress in recent times, whatever it is we call progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-do-not-have-to-tell-you-there-has-been-a-disappointing-retreat-of/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Finally, when the State close to ruin subsists only on an illusory and vain form, when the social bond is broken in all hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/finally-when-the-state-close-to-ruin-subsists-only-on-an-illusory-and/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Who is a good man? He who keeps the decrees of the fathers, and both human and divine laws. \[Lat., Vir bonus est quis?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/who-is-a-good-man-he-who-keeps-the-decrees-of-the-fathers-and-both/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [It must take account of what it decrees for today in order that today may not paralyze tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/it-must-take-account-of-what-it-decrees-for-today-in-order-that-today/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [“Rule by decree has conspicuous advantages for the domination of far-flung territories with heterogeneous populations and for a policy of oppression. Its efficiency is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/rule-by-decree-has-conspicuous-advantages-for-the-domination-of-far/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“The decrees of the emperor end at the village gate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traditional-vietnamese/the-decrees-of-the-emperor-end-at-the-village-gate/) [Traditional Vietnamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traditional-vietnamese/) > [Silence 'tis awe decrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/silence-tis-awe-decrees/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [“Children turn, and must turn, against their parents, and the parents can do nothing about it, for they are subject to a law which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-m-cioran/children-turn-and-must-turn-against-their-parents-and-the-parents-can/) [Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) ## More by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin > [“We are marching in a compact group along a precipitous and difficult path, firmly holding each other by the hand. We are surrounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/we-are-marching-in-a-compact-group-along-a-precipitous-and-difficult/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [“And is it not sects, bodies of definite, uncompromising principles, that lead us into revolutions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/and-is-it-not-sects-bodies-of-definite-uncompromising-principles-that/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [ “Complete self-government for the province \[gubernia and region\], district and community through bureaucrats elected by universal suffrage; the abolition of all local and provincial… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/complete-self-government-for-the-province-gubernia-and-region/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [“Logic is the science not of external forms of thought, but of the laws of development "of all material, natural and spiritual things", i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/logic-is-the-science-not-of-external-forms-of-thought-but-of-the-laws/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [“When the workers of a single factory or of a single branch of industry engage in struggle against their employer or employers, is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/when-the-workers-of-a-single-factory-or-of-a-single-branch-of/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [“The task of a truly revolutionary party is not to declare that it is impossible to renounce all compromises, but to be able, through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/the-task-of-a-truly-revolutionary-party-is-not-to-declare-that-it-is/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) > [“Federal Switzerlandization would be a huge step backwards for Germany. Two”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/federal-switzerlandization-would-be-a-huge-step-backwards-for-germany/) [Vladimir Ilyich Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) [Explore all 8 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/) ## More Shit quotes > [“Artist Matthew Barney has made a film about “shit”. It is hardly original. Hollywood has made shit films for decades.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/artist-matthew-barney-has-made-a-film-about-shit-it-is-hardly/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [Your Just like a toilet, fat round and full of shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-just-like-a-toilet-fat-round-and-full-of-shit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“HA! Ha ha ha HA!” Who”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-roberts/ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-who/) [Richard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-roberts/) > [“Gunnery Sergeant Janeka had enough of your shit before you were even born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-kay/gunnery-sergeant-janeka-had-enough-of-your-shit-before-you-were-even/) [Elliott Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-kay/) > [“Who the shit is Otis?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-o-malley/who-the-shit-is-otis/) [Caris O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-o-malley/) > [“Oh shit. Shit taking a shit on a shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/oh-shit-shit-taking-a-shit-on-a-shit/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [Whoo-wee! whoo-wee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-adkins/whoo-wee-whoo-wee/) [Trace Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-adkins/) > [Heaven and a... fuck all that shit! Y'all hos gotta get up off the corner with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/day-day/heaven-and-a-fuck-all-that-shit-y-all-hos-gotta-get-up-off-the-corner/) [Day-Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/day-day/) > [“50 Zen, read shit… BECOME MASTER!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/50-zen-read-shit-become-master/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [Don't start shit you can't finish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden/don-t-start-shit-you-can-t-finish/) [Jaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden/) > [“The essential truth of life, he was coming to realize, wasn't romantic an took only two words to label: Shit. Happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-essential-truth-of-life-he-was-coming-to-realize-wasn-t-romantic/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Last night was wild as shit..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/last-night-was-wild-as-shit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first draft is always shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-first-draft-is-always-shit/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [OMG...geez OMG...geez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/omg-geez-omg-geez/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Bump that shit, get outta your mind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-jon/bump-that-shit-get-outta-your-mind/) [Lil Jon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-jon/) [Browse all 892 Shit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The departments are shit; decrees are shit.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/vladimir-ilyich-lenin-43705_shit_the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shi_747143.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The departments are shit; decrees are shit.” — Vladimir Ilyich Lenin", "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": "Vladimir Ilyich Lenin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The departments are shit; decrees are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-ilyich-lenin/the-departments-are-shit-decrees-are-shit/#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 } } ] } ```