--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like apples in a barrel infected by one…" description: "\"Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the corruption of Greece would infect Iran and all to the east. It would also carry infection to Af..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/dean-acheson-14457_apples_like-apples-in-a-barrel-infected-by-one_1040992.jpg" --- # Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the… ![“Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the corruption of Greece would infect Iran and all to the east. It would also carry infection to Africa through Asia Minor and Egypt, and to Europe through Italy and France, already threatened by the strongest domestic Communist parties in…” quote by Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/dean-acheson-14457_apples_like-apples-in-a-barrel-infected-by-one_1040992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/dean-acheson-14457_apples_like-apples-in-a-barrel-infected-by-one_1040992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/dean-acheson-14457_apples_like-apples-in-a-barrel-infected-by-one_1040992.jpg) > “Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the corruption of Greece would infect Iran and all to the east. It would also carry infection to Africa through Asia Minor and Egypt, and to Europe through Italy and France, already threatened by the strongest domestic Communist parties in Western Europe. The Soviet Union was playing one of the greatest gambles in history at minimal cost. It did not need to will all the possibilities. Even one or two offered immense gains. We and we alone were in a position to break up the play.” [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that a single corrupt nation can spread instability across regions, urging proactive measures to prevent larger geopolitical fallout. **In simple terms:** One corrupt state can destabilize many others; act early. Key Takeaway Strengthen alliances, monitor regional risks. Themes politics corruption geopolitics containment Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - foreign policy planning - risk assessment - diplomacy Key Concepts strategic foresight regional stability power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What early signs indicate regional contagion? - How can nations collaborate to limit spread? A Different Perspective May simplify complex international relations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communist party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist-party/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Greece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greece/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-europe/) ## Related quotes > [In what do the activities of the Communist Parties consist? 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We must remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/the-general-belief-is-that-communists-in-the-united-nations-come-only/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [To judge from all Communist papers, magazines and brochures, and from all public assemblies, one might even surmise that a revolt of the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/to-judge-from-all-communist-papers-magazines-and-brochures-and-from/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [There's still racism. 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These came of age in Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-padfield/wealth-from-trade-was-the-mainspring-of-western-material-advance-the/) [Peter Padfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-padfield/) > [Western Europe GDP per capita - not taking into account the new accession counties - was lower in 2001 relative to that of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hutton/western-europe-gdp-per-capita-not-taking-into-account-the-new/) [John Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hutton/) > [Germany is probably the richest country in Western Europe. Yet they wouldn't take any television with Duke and Ella, their reaction being that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/germany-is-probably-the-richest-country-in-western-europe-yet-they/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [The most puzzling development in politics during the last decade is the apparent determination of Western European leaders to re-create the Soviet Union in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/the-most-puzzling-development-in-politics-during-the-last-decade-is/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [ They \[leaders in Western Europe\] do not misuse financial instruments, financial injections, but, first of all, seek structural change. This is urgent for our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-leaders-in-western-europe-do-not-misuse-financial-instruments/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Currently intellectuals in Western Europe and North America are extremely demoralized and shaken by the rise of a virulent conservative tendency (which some have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/currently-intellectuals-in-western-europe-and-north-america-are/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [In North America and Western Europe, ten percent of the population of the world consumes fifty percent of its energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-levi/in-north-america-and-western-europe-ten-percent-of-the-population-of/) [Yehuda Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-levi/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Dean Acheson > [How could the USA champion individual freedom in the world generally while denying it to an important minority in its own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/how-could-the-usa-champion-individual-freedom-in-the-world-generally/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The test for aid to poor nations is therefore whether it makes them capable of being productive. If it fails to do so, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-test-for-aid-to-poor-nations-is-therefore-whether-it-makes-them/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [To leave positions of great responsibility and authority is to die a little, but the time comes when that must be faced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/to-leave-positions-of-great-responsibility-and-authority-is-to-die-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Between 9 and 10 AM the American radio is concerned almost exclusively with love. It seems a little like ending breakfast with a stiff bourbon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/between-9-and-10-am-the-american-radio-is-concerned-almost/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [It is worse than immoral, it's a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/it-is-worse-than-immoral-it-s-a-mistake/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Great Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-has-not-yet-found-a-role/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The Iraqi is really not whacky toady, perhaps, even tacky. When they gave him the word, he gave us the bird and joined with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-iraqi-is-really-not-whacky-toady-perhaps-even-tacky-when-they/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [If we learn the art of yielding what must be yielded to the changing present, we can save the best of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/if-we-learn-the-art-of-yielding-what-must-be-yielded-to-the-changing/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Negotiating in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/negotiating-in-the-classic-diplomatic-sense-assumes-parties-more/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Washington is like a self-sealing tank on a military aircraft. When a bullet passes through, it closes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/washington-is-like-a-self-sealing-tank-on-a-military-aircraft-when-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the-reader-but-to-protect-the/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Americans assume Canada to be bestowed as a right and accept this bounty, as they do air, without thought or appreciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/americans-assume-canada-to-be-bestowed-as-a-right-and-accept-this/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-learned-from-the-example-of-my-father-that-the-manner-in-which-one/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The trouble with a free market economy is that it requires so many policemen to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-trouble-with-a-free-market-economy-is-that-it-requires-so-many/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I think Churchill is right, the only thing to be said for democracy is that there is nothing else that's any better, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-think-churchill-is-right-the-only-thing-to-be-said-for-democracy-is/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) [Explore all 46 Dean Acheson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. You get seduced by an 11-pound apple that turns out to be a fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jad-abumrad/therein-lies-the-rub-of-a-place-like-berkeley-bowl-you-get-seduced-by/) [Jad Abumrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jad-abumrad/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead; ask about the scale of their dreams -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of-2/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 1,262 Apples quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the corruption of Greece would infect Iran and all to the east. It would also carry infection to Africa through Asia Minor and Egypt, and to Europe through Italy and France, already threatened by the strongest domestic Communist parties in Western Europe. The Soviet Union was playing one of the greatest gambles in history at minimal cost. It did not need to will all the possibilities. 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