Tyranny Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old tyranny quotes, tyranny sayings, and tyranny proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

Tyrants have not yet discovered any chains that can fetter the mind. Walter Colton
Tyranny brings ignorance and brutality with it. It degrades men from their just rank into the class of brutes; it damps their spirits; it suppresses art; it extinguishes every spark of noble ardor and generosity in the breasts of those who are enslaved by it; it makes naturally strong and great minds feeble and little, and triumphs over the ruins of virtue and humanity. Jonathan Mayhew
Of all tyrannies a country can suffer, the worst is the tyranny of the majority. William Inge
Tyranny has no need of arts or sciences, for its policy, which is very shallow and without any refinement, only consists in shedding blood. Jean de la Bruyère
The tyranny of some is possible only through the cowardice of others. Jose Rizal
Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think. Hannah Arendt
Tyranny cannot defeat the power of ideas. Helen Keller
In every tyrant's heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend. Aeschylus
He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third. Thomas Paine
Tyranny will make an entire population into readers of poetry. Joseph Brodsky
Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. C. S. Lewis
The road to tyranny, we must never forget, begins with the destruction of the truth. Bill Clinton
When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader. Plato
Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. Thomas Paine
To fight tyranny and oppression by using tyrannical and oppressive means, to combat a single-minded and ruthless fanaticism by becoming equally fanatical and ruthless, will not further the cause of justice or bring about a meaningful democracy. It can only prolong the cycle of violence. Tariq Ali
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Thomas Paine
You may talk of the tyranny of Nero and Tiberius; but the real tyranny is the tyranny of your next-door neighbor. Walter Bagehot
Tyranny over a man is not tyranny: it is rebellion, for man is royal. G. K. Chesterton
Tyranny is always better organized than freedom. Charles Peguy
Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy. Plato