--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In early times, it was easier to control…" description: "\"In early times, it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million. Today, it is infinitely easier to to kill a million people than to co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_easier_in-early-times-it-was-easier-to-control_2928797.jpg" --- # In early times, it was easier to control a million people… ![“In early times, it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million. Today, it is infinitely easier to to kill a million people than to control a million.” quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_easier_in-early-times-it-was-easier-to-control_2928797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_easier_in-early-times-it-was-easier-to-control_2928797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_easier_in-early-times-it-was-easier-to-control_2928797.jpg) > “In early times, it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million. Today, it is infinitely easier to to kill a million people than to control a million.” [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, controlling masses was easier than killing them; now, killing mass numbers is easier than controlling them. **In simple terms:** Control used to be easier than killing; now the opposite. Key Takeaway Recognize shifts in power dynamics. Themes politics technology ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - media influence - mass surveillance Key Concepts history modern warfare Questions to Reflect On - How does technology change power? - What ethical safeguards are needed? A Different Perspective The statement may oversimplify complex sociopolitical factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-control-3460570/) [Easier Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-kill-956788/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Kill Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-million-789677/) [Million People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-people/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-control/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Today it is infinitely easier to kill one million people than to control one million people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/today-it-is-infinitely-easier-to-kill-one-million-people-than-to/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“A million people a year kill themselves. Between ten and twenty million people a year try to. Worldwide, men are over three times more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/a-million-people-a-year-kill-themselves-between-ten-and-twenty/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [It's easier to control people when they're afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-russell/it-s-easier-to-control-people-when-they-re-afraid/) [David O. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-russell/) > [Sometimes, the supposedly weak groups turn out to be very difficult, and the supposedly strong ones are easier to take control of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottmar-hitzfeld/sometimes-the-supposedly-weak-groups-turn-out-to-be-very-difficult/) [Ottmar Hitzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottmar-hitzfeld/) > [Knackered inmates are easier to control than pumped-up ones. And dead inmates are even easier to control, if you follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/knackered-inmates-are-easier-to-control-than-pumped-up-ones-and-dead/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I actually think it's sometimes easier for the control freaks to let loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-actually-think-it-s-sometimes-easier-for-the-control-freaks-to-let/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [People who are divided are easier to control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/people-who-are-divided-are-easier-to-control/) [David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/) > [“Humans have learned to split the atom. Instead of killing ten or twenty people with a wooden club, one person can now kill a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/humans-have-learned-to-split-the-atom-instead-of-killing-ten-or/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Tell the innocent visitor from another world that two people were killed at Serajevo, and that the best that Europe could do about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-the-innocent-visitor-from-another-world-that-two-people-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Kill one man and you're a murderer, kill a million and you're a conqueror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/kill-one-man-and-you-re-a-murderer-kill-a-million-and-you-re-a/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [You will not win. For every human you save, we will kill a million more. -Faora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-of-steel/you-will-not-win-for-every-human-you-save-we-will-kill-a-million-more/) [Man Of Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-of-steel/) > [You kill three people, they call you a murderer. You kill a million people, they call you a conqueror. Go figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/you-kill-three-people-they-call-you-a-murderer-you-kill-a-million/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [“They'll never take me back to Denazen. I would kill a thousand if I needed to." He nodded to Dez. "And for her?" For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jus-accardo/they-ll-never-take-me-back-to-denazen-i-would-kill-a-thousand-if-i/) [Jus Accardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jus-accardo/) > [The society will be dominated by an elite of persons free from traditional values who will have no doubt in fulfilling their objectives by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-society-will-be-dominated-by-an-elite-of-persons-free-from/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [It's generally much easier to kill an organization than to change it substantially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/it-s-generally-much-easier-to-kill-an-organization-than-to-change-it/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## More by Zbigniew Brzezinski > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-future-is-inherently-full-of-discontinuities-and-lessons-of-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/look-at-islam-in-a-rational-manner-and-without-demagoguery-or-emotion/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [A waning United States would likely be more nationalistic, more defensive about its national identity, more paranoid about its homeland security, and less willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/a-waning-united-states-would-likely-be-more-nationalistic-more/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Peace between Israel and Palestine would be a giant step toward greater regional stability, and it would finally let both Israelis and Palestinians benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/peace-between-israel-and-palestine-would-be-a-giant-step-toward/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [It is axiomatic that the security of America and Europe are linked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/it-is-axiomatic-that-the-security-of-america-and-europe-are-linked/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the Euro-Atlantic community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Basically, I see Iran as an authentic nation-state. And that authentic identity gives it cohesion, which most of the Middle East lacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/basically-i-see-iran-as-an-authentic-nation-state-and-that-authentic/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Like so many empires before it, the Soviet Union eventually imploded and fragmented, falling victim not so much to a direct military defeat as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/like-so-many-empires-before-it-the-soviet-union-eventually-imploded/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In Iraq we must succeed. Failure is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-iraq-we-must-succeed-failure-is-not-an-option/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [One has to define very clearly what one's objectives are, determine in advance how much one is prepared to pay to achieve that objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/one-has-to-define-very-clearly-what-one-s-objectives-are-determine-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Saddam Hussein was an odious dictator, but he was also a very effective opponent of Iran. He was also a very effective opponent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/saddam-hussein-was-an-odious-dictator-but-he-was-also-a-very/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Hegemony is as old as mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/hegemony-is-as-old-as-mankind/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Democrats should insist that a pluralistic democracy such as ours rely on bipartisanship in formulating a foreign policy based on moderation and the nuances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/democrats-should-insist-that-a-pluralistic-democracy-such-as-ours/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Explore all 258 Zbigniew Brzezinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) [Roger Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sperry/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. 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You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) [Browse all 5,480 Easier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In early times, it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million. 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