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About this quote

What does it mean?
Governing people often involves deceiving them to maintain control.
In plain terms
Rulers control people by lying to them.
What can you take from it?
Governance frequently relies on manipulation.

Where it applies

  • political history
  • civic education
  • leadership studies

Putting it to work

  • question official narratives
  • understand power dynamics

Questions to consider

  • Is deception ever necessary for stability?
  • How can citizens protect themselves from manipulation?

Another view

It presents a overly cynical view that ignores legitimate governance methods.

More from Benjamin Disraeli

  1. Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.

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  2. The choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.

    Permalink to quote #255
  3. Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.

    Permalink to quote #252

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