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Dictators Quotes

Historical reflections on authoritarian rule.

These quotes reference specific 20th century dictatorships, from Italy in the 1920s and Germany in the 1930s to Latin American regimes decades later. One notes that Saddam Hussein studied and copied Stalin as a model of modern dictatorship.

Saddam Hussein admired, studied, and copied Stalin, the paragon of modern dictators.

Quotes by Simon Sebag Montefiore

It's pretty well known that the CIA has been installing friendly dictators around the world for years.

Quotes by Rob Walton

Dictators never invent their own opportunities.

Quotes by R. Buckminster Fuller

I've met quite a few dictators up close and personal in my life.

Quotes by Paul Wolfowitz

Admired Quotes

Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the '30s, East Germany in the '50s, Czechoslovakia in the '60s, the Latin American dictatorships in the '70s, China in the '80s and '90s - all dictatorships and would-be dictators target newspapers and journalists.

Quotes by Naomi Wolf

Mubarak was adept, as were many other U.S.-backed dictators, at playing the sane middle to the 'lunatics with beards' he so often used as bogeymen to guarantee the support of foreign allies.

Quotes by Mona Eltahawy

History has proved that dictators can't last forever.

Quotes by Lee Hyeon-seo

A universal draft is most often the instrument of Third World dictators.

Quotes by Joe Bob Briggs

Mobs and dictators were made for each other, and when mobs appear, dictators will soon flourish.

Quotes by Jaron Lanier

Africa Quotes

Fact check: The examples of failed socialism that critics use are not socialist democracies but authoritarian states led by corrupt, ruthless, and paranoid dictators.

Quotes by Jaboukie Young-White

Even socialist dictators have an interest in gorgeous supermodels.

Quotes by Hugo Chavez

Africa has more dictators per capita than any other continent.

Quotes by George Ayittey

Corporations are the new dictators.

Quotes by Gabriel Byrne

More harm was done in the 20th century by faceless bureaucrats than tyrant dictators.

Quotes by Dennis Prager

American Quotes

Britain has supported theocrats and dictators as long as it served British business interests, whether under Tory or Labour rule.

Quotes by Deeyah Khan

Dictators free themselves, but they enslave the people.

Quotes by Charlie Chaplin

You can't pay for healthcare if we're sending a trillion dollars a year to dictators.

Quotes by Brian Schweitzer

Foreign trade is not a replacement for foreign aid, of course, but foreign aid to a country that doesn't also engage in significant amounts of foreign trade is more likely to end up in the pockets of dictators and cronies.

Quotes by Brian Behlendorf

Warlords, dictators and terrorists are normally okay with the U.S., as long as they do the bidding of U.S. corporate interests.

Quotes by Brendan Sexton III

Bidding Quotes

Perfection spawns doctrines, dictators and totalitarian ideas.

Quotes by Antonio Tabucchi

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the focus of this Dictators quotes page?
These quotes reference real historical dictatorships and figures across the 20th century, treating dictatorship as a recurring pattern across different countries and decades.
Why do people search for quotes about dictators?
Readers often look for dictators quotes for historical or political context, wanting perspective on how authoritarian rule has been described across different eras.
Which historical regimes are mentioned across these quotes?
One quote lists Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the 1930s, East Germany in the 1950s, Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, Latin American dictatorships in the 1970s, and China in the 1980s and 90s as examples.
Is there a quote about Mubarak specifically?
Yes, one quote describes Mubarak as adept, like many other U.S.-backed dictators, at playing a sane middle ground against extremist bogeymen to secure the support of foreign allies.
Does a quote here mention Saddam Hussein and Stalin?
One quote states that Saddam Hussein admired, studied, and copied Stalin, describing Stalin as the paragon of modern dictators, a direct historical comparison rather than an opinion.

Another quote discusses Mubarak among American-backed dictators who balanced foreign allies against domestic opposition. For quotes tied to a specific continent's history, see the Africa quotes page.