20 Lessons on Tyranny

By Timothy Snyder

Once again, I take the opportunity to elevate other important voices in my little space here. In this case, Timothy Snyder, and his 20 Lessons on Tyranny. Read by John Lithgow.

These lessons, concise yet profound, offer practical guidance for maintaining democracy in challenging times. Snyder's insights—drawn from his study of 20th century authoritarianism—provide both philosophical grounding and actionable steps for those committed to preserving democratic values.

I'm particularly struck by Lesson #10: "Believe in truth. 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." This is why I stand here. This is what Notes From The Circus is to me. To stand on behalf of coherence. On behalf of love. Of truth. The love of truth.

This aligns deeply with my own philosophical framework in The Grand Praxis—the recognition that meaning requires a commitment to shared reality, that coherence depends on our willingness to maintain certain foundational truths even as we navigate complexity.

Two plus two equals four. There are twenty-four hours in a day. And as Snyder reminds us, without these anchors of shared truth, we surrender our ability to hold power accountable.

The center must be held—not because it is easy, but because it is ours to hold.

Mike

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For those interested in exploring these themes further, I recommend reading Snyder's full book "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century," which expands on each of these points with historical context and deeper analysis.