On Tyranny
Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
1. Recognize and resist the early signs of tyranny
Do not obey in advance.
Anticipatory obedience serves as a primary driver for the establishment of authoritarian rule. Historical evidence from 20th-century Europe demonstrates that when individuals proactively adapt to the perceived desires of new leaders, they facilitate a rapid collapse of existing political systems. This voluntary compliance signals to authorities that repressive shifts will face little friction.
Examples of early signs:
- Proactive alignment with restrictive new social or legal standards
- Failure to challenge observable instances of prejudice or unfairness
- Passive consent as civil protections are gradually diminished
Resistance strategies:
- Critically analyze and vet new administrative requirements
- Support the rights of individuals targeted by shifting policies
- Study historical precedents to identify repeating patterns of power consolidation
2. Protect democratic institutions and uphold professional ethics
It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well.
Institutions as safeguards: Democratic structures, including the judiciary, independent media, and labor organizations, act as essential barriers against the centralization of power. These entities do not function automatically; their survival depends on the active defense and participation of the public they serve.
Professional ethics: The integrity of professional conduct is vital in opposing authoritarianism. When professionals such as legal experts, medical practitioners, and civil servants adhere to established ethical standards, they help maintain the rule of law and protect fundamental human rights against political pressure.
- Identify and provide active support to a specific protective institution
- Commit to ethical standards even when faced with institutional or political coercion
- Avoid compromising fundamental principles for short-term professional or personal security
3. Defend truth and investigate facts in the face of propaganda
To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so.
Truth as a cornerstone of democracy: Authoritarian systems frequently target the concept of objective reality to neutralize opposition. By eroding the distinction between fact and fiction through propaganda and contradictory messaging, these regimes attempt to make informed dissent impossible.
Strategies for defending truth:
- Prioritize investigative reporting and fund verified news outlets
- Improve analytical reasoning and the ability to navigate complex media landscapes
- Verify the accuracy of information before contributing to its dissemination
- Prioritize evidence-based logic in public and private discourse
4. Cultivate personal connections and civic engagement
Make eye contact and small talk.
Human connections as resistance: The maintenance of interpersonal relationships across different social sectors creates a resilient community capable of withstanding state pressure. These bonds establish the trust and mutual support necessary for collective action and social stability.
Civic engagement: Consistent participation in local organizations and the political process reinforces the social norms that underpin a democratic society.
- Prioritize direct, in-person communication with others in your local environment
- Contribute to community-based groups that reflect your core principles
- Engage in lawful assembly and the formal political system
- Maintain social cohesion through consistent civil interaction
5. Safeguard privacy and establish a robust private life
Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around.
Privacy as freedom: Individual autonomy depends on the ability to maintain a clear boundary between private life and public scrutiny. Repressive regimes often attempt to eliminate this boundary to gain leverage and exert psychological control over the population.
Practical steps to protect privacy:
- Implement rigorous security protocols for all personal digital hardware
- Utilize encrypted platforms and tools designed for secure communication
- Exercise caution regarding the amount of personal data shared on public networks
- Advocate for legal protections and organizations focused on data privacy
6. Learn from history and international peers
Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends in other countries.
Historical awareness: A thorough understanding of how democracies have failed in the past provides the necessary context for identifying current threats and developing effective methods of opposition.
International perspective: Maintaining a global network allows individuals to gain insights from peers who have direct experience with authoritarianism, offering broader strategies for the preservation of democratic norms.
- Analyze the history of both repressive regimes and successful movements of resistance
- Foster and maintain professional and personal relationships outside your home country
- Monitor global developments and diverse analytical viewpoints
- Use international travel and documentation as a means to expand political perspective
7. Stay vigilant against the manipulation of language and emergencies
Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception.
Language as a tool of control: Authoritarian actors often redefine specific terms to marginalize dissenters and justify the suspension of rights. Vocabulary related to security is frequently used to categorize opposition as illegitimate.
Manufactured emergencies: Political leaders may use sudden crises—whether real or invented—to bypass legal constraints and consolidate authority under the guise of temporary necessity.
- Evaluate political rhetoric that characterizes specific groups as subhuman or inherently dangerous
- Analyze whether emergency legal measures are truly necessary or proportionate to the situation
- Support groups dedicated to the protection of civil and legal rights
- Prioritize long-term institutional stability over immediate, reactive measures during crises
8. Embrace patriotism, not nationalism
Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.
Patriotism vs. nationalism: Patriotism is defined by a commitment to foundational ideals and the desire for one’s country to represent its best values. In contrast, nationalism involves uncritical support for state actions and the exclusion of those perceived as outsiders.
Characteristics of patriotism:
- Demanding that the state adheres to its constitutional and ethical promises
- Encouraging critical self-evaluation and public debate
- Prioritizing the health of democratic systems over the status of individual leaders
- Opposing exclusionary practices while supporting a pluralistic society
9. Maintain courage and hope in the face of adversity
If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.
Courage as a civic virtue: Opposing the erosion of democracy requires both individual and collective bravery. This involves the determination to take necessary actions despite the presence of risk or intimidation.
Hope as a catalyst: Maintaining a constructive outlook is essential for enduring prolonged political challenges and motivating others to remain active in the defense of their rights.
- Study past and current examples of successful civic resistance for guidance
- Develop networks of mutual support to maintain psychological and social endurance
- Acknowledge and build upon incremental achievements
- Foster individual resilience through deliberate self-regulation and awareness practices
Last updated: January 22, 2025
What's "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" about?
- Historical roadmap: Offers 20 essential strategies derived from 20th-century autocracies to identify and combat modern oppression.
- Civic advocacy: Focuses on the urgent need to protect democratic frameworks and individual autonomy.
- Action-oriented guide: Provides specific behaviors individuals can adopt to disrupt the slide toward authoritarianism.
- Comparative analysis: Draws direct links between past fascist or communist rises and current global political shifts.
Why should I read "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder?
- Immediate relevance: Provides a lens to interpret and navigate today’s volatile political landscape through historical wisdom.
- Tangible steps: Offers a clear manual for civic engagement and resisting systemic overreach.
- Enlightening perspective: Deepens the reader’s grasp of how societies collapse and how they can be salvaged.
- Individual agency: Reminds citizens that their personal choices are vital in sustaining a free society.
What are the key takeaways of "On Tyranny"?
- Reject early compliance: Avoid granting power to potential tyrants by guessing their desires before they are demanded.
- Sustain organizations: Actively fund and participate in the groups that anchor a healthy democracy.
- Oppose power monopolies: Recognize the danger when a single political faction seeks to eliminate all competition.
- Prioritize objective reality: Understand that the abandonment of facts is the first step toward losing freedom.
What are the best quotes from "On Tyranny" and what do they mean?
- "In politics, being deceived is no excuse." Civic responsibility requires active skepticism; ignorance does not absolve one of the consequences.
- "History does not repeat, but it does instruct." While events differ, the underlying patterns of power offer a survival manual for the present.
- "Do not obey in advance." Most of the power held by autocrats is voluntarily surrendered by citizens in the early stages.
- "Believe in truth." Relinquishing the search for facts makes an individual susceptible to propaganda and control.
How does Timothy Snyder suggest we defend institutions in "On Tyranny"?
- Active investment: Support the specific entities—like the free press or the judiciary—that you rely on for protection.
- Early intervention: Defend these systems at the first sign of trouble, as they cannot protect themselves without public support.
- Shared responsibility: View the health of civic institutions as a personal duty rather than someone else's problem.
- Learn from failure: Study how past institutions were dismantled to recognize current warning signs.
What does "Do not obey in advance" mean in "On Tyranny"?
- Voluntary surrender: The phenomenon where people instinctively adapt to an oppressive leader’s likely demands before they are even made.
- Historical accelerator: Cites how quick public compliance smoothed the path for regimes like Nazi Germany.
- Empowering the state: Early obedience signals to leaders that they can infringe on rights without meeting resistance.
- Personal autonomy: Encourages the refusal to conform to a future that hasn't been mandated yet.
How does "On Tyranny" address the importance of truth?
- Bedrock of liberty: Asserts that democracy is impossible without a shared agreement on basic facts.
- Assault on reality: Explains how regimes use "magical thinking" and open hostility toward evidence to confuse the public.
- Propaganda parallels: Compares modern "fake news" trends to the disinformation campaigns of past totalitarian states.
- Verification as resistance: Urges people to investigate claims, support real journalism, and reject emotional manipulation.
What role does language play in resisting tyranny according to "On Tyranny"?
- Cognitive defense: Using precise, independent language prevents the mind from being colonized by state-sponsored slogans.
- Rejecting scripts: Avoid using clichés or recycled political phrases that stifle original thought.
- Orwellian warnings: Highlights how limiting a society's vocabulary limits its ability to conceive of freedom or dissent.
- Intellectual expansion: Recommends reading books and long-form texts to maintain a complex and resilient vocabulary.
How does "On Tyranny" suggest we handle paramilitaries?
- Identify the risk: Recognize when armed groups outside the official military begin to influence political life.
- Evolution of violence: Notes how private security forces historically transformed into instruments of state-sponsored terror.
- Red flags: Be wary when unofficial groups begin coordinating with the police or military.
- Preserving the state monopoly: Insist that the use of force remains strictly regulated and accountable to the law.
What does "On Tyranny" say about the importance of professional ethics?
- Moral anchors: Adhering to professional standards provides a baseline of resistance when political leaders abandon ethics.
- Complicity through silence: Points out that experts, such as lawyers and doctors, often provided the technical means for past atrocities.
- Collective defiance: Professional groups can stand together to refuse illegal or immoral government directives.
- Rejecting "orders": Maintains that personal and professional integrity must never be sacrificed for political expediency.
How does "On Tyranny" suggest we practice corporeal politics?
- Visible presence: Emphasizes the power of putting your physical self in public spaces through marches and protests.
- Diverse alliances: Urges people to step outside their comfort zones and organize with those from different backgrounds.
- Real-world impact: Uses the Solidarity movement in Poland to show how physical unity can topple entrenched regimes.
- Digital limits: Warns that online activism is insufficient; true political change requires tangible, face-to-face interaction.
What does "On Tyranny" say about being a patriot?
- Principled loyalty: Defines a patriot as someone who holds their country to its highest moral and democratic standards.
- Nationalism vs. Patriotism: Rejects nationalism as a form of narcissism that seeks power and ignores universal values.
- Historical vigilance: Encourages learning from past national failures to prevent the recurrence of authoritarianism.
- Leading by example: Calls for an active, ethical form of citizenship that preserves democracy for future generations.