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Tyrant Quotes

Lines on rule, resistance, and what outlasts a tyrant.

These tyrant quotes cover the abstract and the historical — one contrasts how a tyrant's rule ends at death while a martyr's influence only begins, another marks a ruler's fall with the line that Iraq is free. The framing is Against tyranny in the abstract, not any one side.

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Quotes by Aesop

The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins.

Quotes by Soren Kierkegaard

Love is a tyrant sparing none.

Quotes by Pierre Corneille

I didn't want to kill a man. I'm not capable of killing a man. I wanted to kill a tyrant.

Quotes by Oriana Fallaci

Against Quotes

The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.

Quotes by George W. Bush

In order to have the stuff of a tyrant, a certain mental derangement is necessary.

Quotes by Emil Cioran

It was known in the mid 90s already that Saddam Hussein was a dangerous tyrant that he had already launched aggressions against Iran, he had invaded Kuwait.

Quotes by Douglas Feith

Death is the tyrant of the imagination.

Quotes by Bryan Procter

Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.

Aristotle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these tyrant quotes reference a specific historical event?
One does — it marks a ruler's fall with the line that the tyrant has fallen and Iraq is free, a real historical and political statement presented neutrally here as commentary on tyranny.
What is the distinction drawn in the 'tyrant dies... martyr dies' quote?
It contrasts endings — a tyrant's death ends his rule, while a martyr's death is framed as the beginning of theirs, suggesting martyrdom carries influence a tyrant's power never had.
Is there a quote that calls something other than a ruler a tyrant?
Yes — one calls love itself a tyrant that spares no one, using the word figuratively rather than politically.
What does the 'kill a man... kill a tyrant' quote mean?
It draws a moral distinction between violence against a person and opposition to what that person represents, framing the act as directed at tyranny itself rather than an individual.
What overall theme connects these tyrant quotes?
They treat tyranny as something that inevitably ends, whether through death, resistance, or historical reckoning, and each quote approaches that ending from a different angle. See our Against quotes for related themes of resistance.

One quote goes further, describing the difference between wanting to kill a man and wanting to kill a tyrant. For related reflection on resistance, see our Capable quotes.