--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He smirked. “Communism? Of course not…" description: "\"“He smirked. “Communism? Of course not. The Soviet Union fell because communism did not understand human nature. People act in their self-interest. Whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/d-r-bell-73589_human-nature_he-smirked-communism-of-course-not-the-s_1731991.jpg" --- # He smirked. “Communism? Of course not. The Soviet Union… ![“He smirked. “Communism? Of course not. The Soviet Union fell because communism did not understand human nature. People act in their self-interest. When there is too little self-interest the economy sputters. Now America is failing because it also stopped understanding human nature. When there is…” quote by D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/d-r-bell-73589_human-nature_he-smirked-communism-of-course-not-the-s_1731991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/d-r-bell-73589_human-nature_he-smirked-communism-of-course-not-the-s_1731991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/d-r-bell-73589_human-nature_he-smirked-communism-of-course-not-the-s_1731991.jpg) > ““He smirked. “Communism? Of course not. The Soviet Union fell because communism did not understand human nature. People act in their self-interest. When there is too little self-interest the economy sputters. Now America is failing because it also stopped understanding human nature. When there is too much self-interest, people just start voting themselves money or skimming it off others by any means possible. Deep inside, we are all little Robin Hoods. I think your founders understood this. That’s why democracies flame out: people will vote for those who promise them more for less, and politicians will say and do what they have to in order to get elected and re-elected. That’s how it’s been throughout history. You have to find the right balance between giving people some measure of self-interest, but within the context of a strong state that keeps those Robin Hood-ish tendencies in check. That’s what I believe in: my country with a strong state.”” D.R. Bell ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that both too little and too much self‑interest destabilize societies, urging a strong state to balance individual motives with collective order. **In simple terms:** Balance self‑interest with a strong state. Key Takeaway Seek balanced governance. Themes politics economics human nature governance Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy design - public administration - citizen engagement - economic regulation Key Concepts self‑interest state power democratic decay Questions to Reflect On - How can a state protect the public good without overreaching? - What mechanisms ensure accountability in a strong state? A Different Perspective Strong states may suppress freedoms and stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a socialist. 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But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-have-one-of-the-strongest-records-in-fighting-for-senior-citizens-i/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“I belong to a generation that came of age listening to news of the collapse of the Communist dicatorships and never felt the slightest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/i-belong-to-a-generation-that-came-of-age-listening-to-news-of-the/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [The Soviet Union and something called communism per se had not been the object of Washington's global attacks. There had never been an International…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blum/the-soviet-union-and-something-called-communism-per-se-had-not-been/) [William Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blum/) > [Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. 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Bell quotes ## More Communism quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. 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That’s why democracies flame out: people will vote for those who promise them more for less, and politicians will say and do what they have to in order to get elected and re-elected. That’s how it’s been throughout history. You have to find the right balance between giving people some measure of self-interest, but within the context of a strong state that keeps those Robin Hood-ish tendencies in check. That’s what I believe in: my country with a strong state.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D.R. 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