“Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship.”
Lecture at Columbia University (28 April 1959)
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Harry Truman 119
American politician, 33rd president of the United States (i… 1884–1972Related quotes

Interview in El Mercurio (1981)
1980s and later
Context: Well, I would say that, as long-term institutions, I am totally against dictatorships. But a dictatorship may be a necessary system for a transitional period. At times it is necessary for a country to have, for a time, some form or other of dictatorial power. As you will understand, it is possible for a dictator to govern in a liberal way. And it is also possible for a democracy to govern with a total lack of liberalism. Personally I prefer a liberal dictator to democratic government lacking liberalism. My personal impression — and this is valid for South America — is that in Chile, for example, we will witness a transition from a dictatorial government to a liberal government. And during this transition it may be necessary to maintain certain dictatorial powers, not as something permanent, but as a temporary arrangement.

Source: 2000s, The Age of Turbulence (2008), Chapter Thirteen, "The Modes of Capitalism", p. 275.

Citizenship Papers (2003), A Citizen's Response
Context: Our Constitution, by its separation of powers and its system of checks and balances, acts as a restraint upon efficiency by denying exclusive power to any branch of government. The logic of governmental efficiency, unchecked, runs straight on, not only to dictatorship, but also to torture, assassination, and other abominations.
Indictment of Socialism (#3) http://debs.indstate.edu/b262b3_1914.pdf, transcript of Barnhill-Tichenor Debate on Socialism (1914)
This quote is often erroneously attributed to Thomas Jefferson

"Industrial Organization and Rent Seeking in Dictatorships"

Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, “Unlimited Government” (Dec. 29, 1961).
As quoted in Why Americans Hate Politics, by E.J. Dionne, Jr., Simon & Schuster (2004) p. 267.