Those of us who lived under communism for most of our…

“Those of us who lived under communism for most of our lives were looking toward the Western world because of its values, emphasis on democracy, individual liberties and freedom, and economic prosperity.”

Vaclav Klaus

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Western democracy offers freedom, prosperity, and individual rights absent under communism.

In simple terms: Democracy provides liberty and wealth.

Key Takeaway

Embrace democratic values for prosperity.

Themes

politics freedom economics democracy history

Mood

analytical hopeful critical

Type

political historical sociological

When to use this quote

voting
policy reform
education campaigns
civil society building

Key Concepts

political science comparative politics human rights

Questions to Reflect On

How can societies sustain democratic gains?
What obstacles persist in post‑communist states?

A Different Perspective

Transition challenges can hinder full benefits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

Communism Democracy Freedom Individual Liberties Prosperity Values Western Western world World

More by Vaclav Klaus

My main concern is the political dimension of European integration. This is one of the most important issues of all, as far as I'm…

Vaclav Klaus

That means following a very restrictive fiscal and monetary policy which will squeeze the monopolies and cut their subsidies. On the micro level we…

Vaclav Klaus

EU didn't advance our [Eastern Europe] democracy by a single millimeter.

Vaclav Klaus

"not a scientific body capable of accurately assessing the facts about global warming".

Vaclav Klaus

Nevertheless, there is another threat on the horizon. I see this threat in environmentalism which is becoming a new dominant ideology, if not a…

Vaclav Klaus

Human relations tend to be more difficult when you're dealing with someone who weighs 30 kilograms more than you do. That's when you worry…

Vaclav Klaus

The climate change debate is basically not about science; it is about ideology. It is not about global temperature; it is about the concept…

Vaclav Klaus

I am afraid there are people who want to stop the economic growth, the rise in the standard of living (though not their own)…

Vaclav Klaus

Communism was replaced by the threat of ambitious environmentalism.

Vaclav Klaus

I do not consider the Lisbon Treaty to be a good thing for Europe, for the freedom of Europe, or for the Czech Republic.

Vaclav Klaus

And finally, there is another danger: the emergence of nonideological but very aggressive 'isms,' which are really quite new. Let me at least name…

Vaclav Klaus

To reduce the interpretation of the causality of all kinds of climate changes and of global warming to one variable, CO2, or to a…

Vaclav Klaus

I was 25 years old and pursuing my doctorate in economics when I was allowed to spend six months of postgraduate studies in Naples,…

Vaclav Klaus

Common foreign policy is completely unnecessary. The various European countries have widely differing priorities, goals and prejudices. It would be wrong to force them…

Vaclav Klaus

I don't think there is any global warming. I don't see the statistical data for that.

Vaclav Klaus

Explore all 54 Vaclav Klaus quotes

More Because quotes

One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.

Marcel Duchamp

I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.

Alice Walker

Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…

Rajneesh

I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…

David S. Goyer

There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…

Daniel Caesar

It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…

Elmore Leonard

I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.

Tom Perrotta

I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…

Neil Peart

It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.

Samuel Barnett

Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…

Cal Ripken, Jr

Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…

Rachel Nichols

I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…

Joan Rivers

I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…

Suresh Gopi

I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…

Mark Leibovich

There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…

John Perry Barlow

Browse all 15,485 Because quotes

Those of us who lived under communism for most of our…

About This Quote

Related quotes

More by Vaclav Klaus

More Because quotes