History Quotes / PuppetKing

->''"You see, all the power has been held by one man, [[BigBad Chairman Freeth]]. In ''theory,'' theory planet is governed by the Council of Ministers with the President at their head, but they're weak and corrupt, and the President just leaves everything to his son."''

[[folder:Web Original]]
->As much as [''[[Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment The Waldo Moment]]''] mocks Jack's idea of a digital democracy, it proves itself to be just as naive when it comes to our modern democracy. The fact of the matter is, most of the power in the West is held by people whose names have never been on a ballot ... The episode portrays the masses as being at fault for electing Waldo, who then becomes the face of some sort of oligarchy. But in our world, we could see Waldo tomorrow while voting for all the Liams or Gwendolyns we want.
-->-- From a [[{{Irony}} Facebook]] review of ''Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment''

->''"People can't handle the reality that we have such broken institutions that an [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump idiot boy-king]] that is dumber than [[RoyallyScrewedUp every one of the most deformed]] [[UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire Hapsburgs]] can rule without challenge because he serves the interests of a political party that has control of every institution that is supposed to check his power... None of it matters. It's a machine that carries forth of its own momentum with no actual civic will behind it. The spirit has totally deserted it. You people thought these institutions work because they have inherent legitimacy and were good institutions, tried and true. No. They work because they serve people in power. And if the dumbest man in the history of the world can just get into the cockpit and start moving the gears around, and the plane keeps going in the same direction, maybe they're not actually hooked up to anything."''
-->-- '''Matt''', ''Podcast/ChapoTrapHouse''
[[/folder]]

->As much as [''[[Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment The Waldo Moment]]''] mocks Jack's idea of a digital democracy, it proves itself to be just as naive when it comes to our modern democracy. The fact of the matter is, most of the power in the West is held by people whose names have never been on a ballot ... The episode portrays the masses as being at fault for electing Waldo, who then becomes the face of some sort of oligarchy. But in our world, we could see Waldo tomorrow while voting for all the Liams or Gwendolyns we want.
-->-- From a [[{{Irony}} Facebook]] review of ''Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment''

->''"People can't handle the reality that we have such broken institutions that an [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump idiot boy-king]] that is dumber than [[RoyallyScrewedUp every one of the most deformed]] [[UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire Hapsburgs]] can rule without challenge because he serves the interests of a political party that has control of every institution that is supposed to check his power... None of it matters. It's a machine that carries forth of its own momentum with no actual civic will behind it. The spirit has totally deserted it. You people thought these institutions work because they have inherent legitimacy and were good institutions, tried and true. No. They work because they serve people in power. And if the dumbest man in the history of the world can just get into the cockpit and start moving the gears around, and the plane keeps going in the same direction, maybe they're not actually hooked up to anything."''
-->-- '''Matt''', ''Podcast/ChapoTrapHouse''

->In the months that followed their wedding, [[TheGoodKing Alistair]] and [[TheHighQueen Anora]] fell into the routine of ruling Ferelden. Anora was a skilled governor, adept at matters of court and more than willing to spend her time judging matters of law from the throne... and [[HenpeckedHusband Alistair was quite happy to let her do so]].
-->-- ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''

->'''Avlora:''' With all due respect, ser, I do not believe Queen Cordelia to be fit for ruling Glenbrook.\\
'''Gustadolph:''' She does not need to be. She is to be our figurehead, a place for the people to focus both their hope and discontent. And while the poor people of Glenbrook stumble in the dark, we shall establish a new government-- one based in freedom.
-->-- ''VideoGame/TriangleStrategy''

->The thing about [[StarterVillain Billy Rock]] is that he is both [[PointyHairedBoss dumb]] and [[AxCrazy mean]]. He's the youngest of five brothers, but three of them were killed in the vendetta that gave [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs his family]] control of South London after they moved in from Hong Kong. The fourth survived being shot in the head and losing most of his forebrain, but he spends most of the time in a room in the basement of the family house, hunting for imaginary enemies and howling like a dog. Which, because his father died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob's, means that Billy Rock is the ''de facto'' head of the family.
->Billy's uncles handle most of the day-to-day business, and he is left with little to do except indulge in his drug of choice. Crack, mostly, which is [[MeaningfulName how he got his street name]], that and his fondness for speed metal.
-->-- ''Fairyland,'' by Paul J [=McAuley=]

->''Now, my dearest [[TheEmperor grandson]]. Let me remind you of your place, in the simplest of terms. You do not ''make'' judgments—you ''administer'' them. Swiftly and to the letter. Naught else is your concern.''
-->-- '''[[TheManBehindTheMan Solus zos Galvus]]''', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV: Stormblood''

->UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}} ruled the [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire world]], but Livia ruled Augustus.
-->-- '''Robert Graves''', ''Literature/IClaudius''

->'''Vice''': Where's your sorry? Look, your boss is bawling.
->'''[[TheManInFrontOfTheMan Olteca]]''': "Boss"? She was just for show. A convenient puppet for cultists to gather around.

->The king suddenly surprised everyone by standing up, pulling himself to his full regal height and smashing the end of his sceptre into the ground with a conversation-silencing crash. "I," he roared, "am the KING!"
->The advisor coughed, unimpressed. "[[ShutUpKirk Yes, your majesty, you're the king. A noble, wise king]]."
->“Y—”
->“So noble and so wise that he understands exactly the importance of the relationship his kingdom has with the [[MegaCorp Adventurer's Guild]]." His tone was bored and civil, but there was a lilt in his last few words that brought to mind a concealed knife flashed momentarily in a sleeve.
->His royal wetness sat back down.
-->-- ''Literature/{{Mogworld}}''

->''"The spiritual heart of all Japan--the court of the Emperor at Kyoto, the palace of the living god descended from the sun itself, the throne room of the sacred ruler of the Islands of Nippon!\\
Of course, a thousand years ago the Emperor's power was wrested from him by the warlord called the Shogun, and since that time the Emperor has ruled in name alone. But ancient duties must still be discharged. Observe how low Lord Abe bows down to the ruler whom he rules."''
-->-- '''Reciter''', ''Theatre/PacificOvertures''

-> We were saying, "President" Morty, that we don't care who sits in that seat — a Rick, a Morty, a goddamn [[ButtMonkey Jerry]], doesn't matter. We've been running the Citadel since before the Council, and you'll find we're still running it now!
-->-- '''Garment District Rick''', ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', [[spoiler: Just before Evil Morty subverts the trope and takes full control of the Citadel]]

->'''Amazon Killer''': Didn't you hear my order?! I am the queen of the Machine Empire!
->'''Hell Saturn''': The Machine Empire belongs to the [[TheManBehindTheMan Omnipotent God]]! You're merely a piece of garbage.

->In theory, [[ToxicInc Endron]] is run by its president, [[BigBadWannabe Max Carson]], with the able assistant of his COO, [[TheDragon Nicholas Morgan]], and his CFO, [[EvilGenius Justin Chen]]. [...] The three exert an iron control over Endron headquarters and the organizational framework of the corporation as a whole. What they don't realize is that this is all they control.
->The other element of "official" authority at Endron is the Board. In practice, the Board has the ability to remove the president and his chief advisors at will. In practice, this is all they have the authority to do, because they, like the president himself, have been defanged. Of course, They make sure that both president and Board feel properly empowered, and that serves to hide Their existence.
-->-- ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse - Subsidiaries: A Guide To Pentex''

-->--'''Londo''', ''Series/BabylonFive''

-->--From a [[{{Irony}} Facebook]] review of ''Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment''

-->--'''Epilogue,''' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''

-->--''Fairyland,'' by Paul J [=McAuley=]

-->--''Series/{{Farscape}}'', [[Recap/FarscapeS02E11LookAtThePrincessAKissIsButAKiss Look At The Princess Part I: A Kiss Is But A Kiss]]"

-->'''--[[TheManBehindTheMan Solus zos Galvus]]''', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV: Stormblood''

-->--'''Ser Jorah Mormont,''' ''Series/GameOfThrones: History And Lore Of Westeros - The Free Cities''

-->--'''Robert Graves''', ''Literature/IClaudius''

-->--''Series/KamenRiderRevice''

-->--''Literature/{{Mogworld}}''

-->--''Series/TaiyouSentaiSunVulcan''

-->--''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse - Subsidiaries: A Guide To Pentex''

->The other element of "official" authority at Endron is the Board. In practice, the Board has the ability to remove the president and his chief advisors at will. In practice, this is all they have the authority to do, because they, like the president himself, have been defanged. Of course, [[AlmightyJanitor They]] make sure that both president and Board feel properly empowered, and that serves [[HiddenVillain to hide]] [[TheManBehindTheMan Their]] [[HiddenVillain existence]].

->''"People can't handle the reality that we have such broken institutions that an [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump idiot boy-king]] that is dumber than [[RoyallyScrewedUp every one of the most deformed]] [[UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire Hapsburgs]] can rule without challenge because he serves the interests of a political party that has control of every institution that is supposed to check his power... None of it matters. It's a machine that carries forth of its own momentum with no actual civic will behind it. The spirit has totally deserted it. You people thought these institutions work because they have inherent legitimacy and were good institutions, tried and true. No. They work because they serve people in power. And if the dumbest man in the history of the world can just get into the cockpit and start moving the gears around, and the plane keeps going in the same direction, maybe they're not actually hooked up to anything."''
-->-- '''Matt''', ''Podcast/ChapoTrapHouse''

->''"I'm Lao Ma, wife of the great Lao. Please forgive my husband for sending his insignificant wife to handle such difficult affairs of state. But he's very ill."''
-->-- '''Lao Ma''' , ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''

->'''[[RoyalBrat Prince Clavor]]:''' [[SarcasmMode Forgive my ignorance, sagacious teacher!]] I trusted you to make [[SuccessionCrisis this work]]! Was that unwise of me?
->'''[[EvilChancellor Cargn]]:''' You will rule not because ''you'' desire it, Clavor, but because ''' ''[[ManBehindTheMan I]]'' do.'''
-->--''Series/{{Farscape}}'', [[Recap/FarscapeS02E11LookAtThePrincessAKissIsButAKiss Look At The Princess Part I: A Kiss Is But A Kiss]]"

->In the months that followed their wedding, [[TheGoodKing Alistair]] and [[TheHighQueen Anora]] fell into the routine of ruling Ferelden. Anora was a skilled governor, adept at matters of court and more than willing to spend her time judging matters of law from the throne... and [[HenpeckedHusband Alistair was quite happy to let her do so]].
-->--'''Epilogue,''' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''

->[[MerchantCity Pentos]] is the most ruthless. The [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Magisters]] make a great show of [[ElectiveMonarchy choosing the Prince of Pentos from the Great Families]], and granting him the powers of trade, justice and war... [[DeadpanSnarker as long as he checks with them first]]. On the New Year, to bring good fortune to Pentos, this Prince must deflower the Maid of the Field and the Maid of the Seas. I confess I don't know how each is chosen, or what becomes of them after serving their purpose. But, if a crop should fail or a war be lost, the Magisters [[ScapeGoat will slit the Prince's throat and choose another]].
-->--'''Ser Jorah Mormont,''' ''Series/GameOfThrones: History And Lore Of Westeros - The Free Cities''

->The king suddenly surprised everyone by standing up, pulling himself to his full regal height and smashing the end of his sceptre into the ground with a conversation-silencing crash. "I," he roared, "am the KING!"
->The advisor coughed, unimpressed. "[[ShutUpKirk Yes, your majesty, you're the king. A noble, wise king]]."
->“Y—”
->“So noble and so wise that he understands exactly the importance of the relationship his kingdom has with the [[MegaCorp Adventurer's Guild]]." His tone was bored and civil, but there was a lilt in his last few words that brought to mind a concealed knife flashed momentarily in a sleeve.
->His royal wetness sat back down.
-->--''Literature/{{Mogworld}}''

->The thing about [[StarterVillain Billy Rock]] is that he is both [[PointyHairedBoss dumb]] and [[AxCrazy mean]]. He's the youngest of five brothers, but three of them were killed in the vendetta that gave [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs his family]] control of South London after they moved in from Hong Kong. The fourth survived being shot in the head and losing most of his forebrain, but he spends most of the time in a room in the basement of the family house, hunting for imaginary enemies and howling like a dog. Which, because his father died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob's, means that Billy Rock is the ''de facto'' head of the family.
->Billy's uncles handle most of the day-to-day business, and he is left with little to do except indulge in his drug of choice. Crack, mostly, which is [[MeaningfulName how he got his street name]], that and his fondness for speed metal.
-->--''Fairyland,'' by Paul J [=McAuley=]

->As much as [''[[Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment The Waldo Moment]]''] mocks Jack's idea of a digital democracy, it proves itself to be just as naive when it comes to our modern democracy. The fact of the matter is, most of the power in the West is held by people whose names have never been on a ballot ... The episode portrays the masses as being at fault for electing Waldo, who then becomes the face of some sort of oligarchy. But in our world, we could see Waldo tomorrow while voting for all the Liams or Gwendolyns we want.
-->--From a [[{{Irony}} Facebook]] review of ''Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment''

->''Now, my dearest [[TheEmperor grandson]]. Let me remind you of your place, in the simplest of terms. You do not ''make'' judgments—you ''administer'' them. Swiftly and to the letter. Naught else is your concern.''
-->'''--[[TheManBehindTheMan Solus zos Galvus]]''', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV: Stormblood''

->UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}} ruled the [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire world]], but Livia ruled Augustus.
-->--'''Robert Graves''', ''Literature/IClaudius''

-->--From a [[Irony Facebook]] review of ''Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment''

->The king suddenly surprised everyone by standing up, pulling himself to his full regal height and smashing the end of his sceptre into the ground with a conversation-silence crash. "I," he roared, "am the KING!"

->In theory, [[ToxicInc Endron]] is run by its president, Max Carson, with the able assistant of his COO, Nicholas Morgan, and his CFO, Justin Chen. [...] The three exert an iron control over Endron headquarters and the organizational framework of the corporation as a whole. What they don't realize is that this is all they control.

->In theory, [[ToxicInc Endron]] is run by its president, Max Carson, with the able assistant of his COO, Nicholas Morgan, and his CFO, Justin Chen. [...] The three exert an iron control over Endron headquarters and organizational framework of the corporation as a whole. What they don't realize is that this is all they control.

->''"When you were emperor, it meant something. Subduer of the Xon and the Shoggren. Now–pffft–anyone can be emperor. ''I'' can be emperor. ''Vir'' can be emperor. If Vir can be emperor…a small Earth cat can be emperor!"''

->[at portrait] When you were emperor, it meant something. Subduer of the Xon and the Shoggren. Now–pffft–anyone can be emperor. ''I'' can be emperor. ''Vir'' can be emperor. If Vir can be emperor…a small Earth cat can be emperor!

->'''Tyrion Lannister:''' You just sent [[TheCaligula the most powerful man in Westeros]] to bed without his supper.
->'''Tywin Lannister:''' You're a fool if you believe he is the most powerful man in Westeros.
->'''Tyrion:''' A treasonous statement. Joffrey is king.
->'''Tywin:''' You really think a crown gives you power?
-->-- '''''Series/GameOfThrones'''''