They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Wherever despotism abounds, the sources of public information are the first to be brought under its control.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Despotism seeks to control information to maintain power.
This quote by Calvin Coolidge emphasizes the relationship between authoritarian rule and the censorship of information. When a despotic regime emerges, it often targets sources of information, such as the media or public communications, in order to manipulate or suppress the truth and maintain control over the populace. By limiting access to unbiased information, despots can easily influence public opinion and eliminate dissent, solidifying their power.
Themes
DespotismInformationControlCensorshipFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of a free press in democracy.
More from Calvin Coolidge
All quotes βIt is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
America's present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
No method of procedure has ever been devised by which liberty could be divorced from local self-government. No plan of centralization has ever been adopted which did not result in bureaucracy, tyranny, inflexibility, reaction, and decline.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so important as whether his Americanism of today is real and genuine. No matter by what various crafts we came here, we are all now in the same boat.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Similar quotes
No sooner does an American president take his oath of office than the speculation begins: Will he be reelected in four years' time? If not, who will succeed him? A member of his own party? The other party?
Gore VidalRead
I learned that fighting on the chess board could also have an impact on the political climate in the country.
Garry KasparovRead
We have already given in example one effectual check to the dog of war by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body
Thomas JeffersonRead
The work of the political activist inevitably involves a certain tension between the requirement that position be taken on current issues as they arise and the desire that one's contributions will somehow survive the ravages of time.
Angela DavisRead
The blunt truth about the politics of climate change is that no country will want to sacrifice its economy in order to meet this challenge.
Tony BlairRead
We cannot run a democracy without a strong middle class.
Elizabeth WarrenRead