Tyrants rely on the compliance of the people from "summary" of The Politics of Obedience and Étienne de La Boétie by Estienne de La Boétie,Paul Bonnefon
Tyrants are able to maintain their power and control over the people only because the people willingly comply with their rule. The authority of a tyrant is ultimately dependent on the submission and obedience of the population. Without the acquiescence of the people, the tyrant would have no power to enforce their will. The people, in their obedience to the tyrant, become complicit in their own subjugation. By following the orders and dictates of the tyrant, the people enable the tyrant to exercise their authority and oppress them. It is this compliance and submission that ultimately sustains the tyrant's rule. The relationship between the tyrant and the people is one of mutual reinforcement. The tyrant relies on the people to obey and follow their commands, while the people rely on the tyrant for order and stability. This dynamic creates a cycle of oppression, where the tyranny of the ruler is perpetuated by the obedience of the ruled. However, it is within the power of the people to break this cycle of tyranny through non-compliance and resistance. If the people were to collectively refuse to obey the tyrant and withdraw their consent, the tyrant's authority would crumble. The key to overthrowing tyranny lies in the people's willingness to resist and defy the oppressive rule. By recognizing the role that compliance plays in upholding tyranny, the people can begin to challenge the authority of the tyrant. Through acts of disobedience and defiance, the people can undermine the tyrant's power and bring about their downfall. It is only through the refusal to comply with unjust authority that true freedom and liberation can be achieved.
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