It Can't Happen Here

“What this country needs is Discipline! Peace is a great dream, but maybe sometimes it's only a pipe dream! […] [W]e need to be in a real war again, in order to learn Discipline!” 

This quote from early in the novel demonstrates the beliefs that give rise to totalitarian governments. The belief that society has grown weak and decayed and requires decisive action in order to be restored to a time of perceived past glory is a tactic commonly used by such regimes.

“People will think they're electing him to create more economic security. Then watch the Terror! God knows there's been enough indication that we can have tyranny in America.” 

This quote is an early example of Jessup, standing in for author Lewis, arguing that It Can Happen Here, as he gives examples of forms of American hysteria that serve as proof that Americans are no more immune to totalitarianism than those of any other country.

“The Executive has got to have a freer hand and be able to move quick in an emergency, and not be tied down by a lot of dumb shyster-lawyer congressmen.”

This demonstrates a key tenant of totalitarian rule: that the political institutions of democratic liberalism are insufficient for dealing with modern challenges as they become infected with corrupt actors who prevent the actions necessary for solving problems. It follows in the totalitarian mindset that the only solution is for a single person with a strong hand to sweep away the swamp of career politicians and create a new form of government.