ThePeople have often erroneously attributed the statementquote "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize" has been falsely attributed to [[Voltaire]], the French [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] philosopher, including Australian Conservative Party politician [[Cory Bernardi]] and Tesla entrepreneur [[Elon Musk]]. <ref name="Hunt">{{cite news | last=Hunt | first=Elle | title=Cory Bernardi mistakenly 'quotes' Voltaire on Twitter with neo-Nazi's line | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/27/cory-bernardi-mistakenly-quotes-voltaire-on-twitter-with-supposed-neo-nazis-line |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=November 27, 2015|access-date=July 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite Theweb |date=May phrase28, however2023 |title=Elon Musk Shares Fake Voltaire Quote Actually From Neo-Nazi |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/05/27/elon-musk-shares-fake-voltaire-quote-actually-from-neo-nazi/ |access-date=May 28, is2023 believed|work=Intelligence toReport have|publisher=[[Forbes]]}}</ref>In fact it originated in an essay by Strom which was first published in 1993:, "All America Must Know the Terror that is Upon Us,".Hein which he wrote:, "To determine the true rulers of any society, all you must do is ask yourself this question: Who is it that I am not permitted to criticize?". <ref name="Hunt" />
On May 28 2023, the "true rulers" quote was tweeted by [[Elon Musk]], continuing the false attribution to Voltaire.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 28, 2023 |title=Elon Musk Shares Fake Voltaire Quote Actually From Neo-Nazi |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/05/27/elon-musk-shares-fake-voltaire-quote-actually-from-neo-nazi/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Intelligence Report |publisher=[[Forbes]]}}</ref>
