The Great Dictator: More Than Machinery, We Need Humanity - You Are Not Machines!

[DISCLAIMER]

*The Great Dictator (1940) spoilers contained herein.

Photo credit, property of United Artists, fair use

When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Alythia Kwan, I heard her spin the song “Sauce (Redspace Remix)” (2026) by Juan Vazquez, Maximo Gambini, and Martin Di Sciascio. It has an audio sample of The Great Dictator (1940), about which one source states:

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. Having been the only major Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, Chaplin made this his first true sound film.

Chaplin’s film advanced a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as fascism, antisemitism, and Nazism. At the time of its first release, the United States [U.S.] was still at peace with Nazi Germany and neutral during what were the early days of World War II. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber.

The Great Dictator was popular with audiences, becoming Chaplin’s most commercially successful film. Modern critics have praised it as a historically significant film, one of the greatest comedy films ever made and an important work of satire.

I’m vaguely familiar with Chaplin’s work, not having watched The Great Dictator, and I was intrigued by the audio sample from the film that was featured on “Sauce (Redspace Remix)”. For context, the final speech of The Great Dictator, partially sampled in the song, states:

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world, there is room for everyone. And the good Earth is rich, and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical – our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost…

The airplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now, my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish…

Soldiers, don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers, don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – In the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

The dictator (one holding complete autocratic control: a person with unlimited governmental power) delivered a speech that was utopian (of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a utopia—a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions).

Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world in which such idealistic notions of utopia aren’t possible for very long (if at all). If anything, 86 years since The Great Dictator was released, there’s been ample evidence to rebuff sentimentality expressed by the fictional dictator.

Currently, in the U.S., there appears to be a uniparty functioning as an oligarchy supported by high-net-worth individuals, technocrats, lobbyists, and others whose interests and goals aren’t well-aligned with the citizenry. For instance, consider the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

Wealthy AI magnates, such as Alex Karp of Palantir, have dictatorial power. For context, Karp has stated, “Palantir is here to disrupt and make our—the institutions we partner with—the very best in the world and, when it’s necessary, to scare our enemies and, on occasion, kill them.”

For clarity, one source reports that “experts have expressed concern over the use of Palantir’s AI-powered defense platform - Maven Smart System - during wartime and its reported use in US attacks on Iran.” Doesn’t killing people like this, ostensibly with prejudice, sound dictatorial?

While I appreciate Chaplin’s speech in The Great Dictator, I see things as they actually are. Still, I find it interesting that he said, “More than machinery, we need humanity,” and, “You are not machines,” given that AI is now being considered as a viable transhumanist replacement.

Of this, a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) comes to mind. Given that the U.S. government appears to be heavily influenced by those who hate the people – rather than We the People – I encourage you to practice one of the main tools of REBT.

Specifically, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Concerning the circle of control, I acknowledge that the only control I actually have regarding AI machinery is my reaction to it (USA). About the circle of influence, I realize that people such as Karp likely don’t care about my opinions on transhumanism, as I accept this outcome (UOA).

Likewise, pertaining to the circle of concern, I admit that although we may need humanity when considering use of AI to track and kill people, this is an impermanent and uncertain existence in which I have very little control and influence (ULA). Unlike Chaplin, I value what actually is.

Oh, and about the area of no concern—the imagined possibility of me in an alternate dimension that’s an AI program writing this blogpost—fuck it, man; let’s just not even discuss it, man! Given my view on UA, regarding control and influence, I invite you to practice this helpful tool.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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