--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fanatical Communist refuses to…" description: "\"The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable report or evidence about Russia, nor will he be disillusioned by seeing with his own eyes th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/eric-hoffer-343_ability_the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-belie_347252.jpg" --- # The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable… ![“The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable report or evidence about Russia, nor will he be disillusioned by seeing with his own eyes the cruel misery inside the Soviet promised land. It is the true believer's ability to "shut his eyes and stop his ears" to facts that do not deserve…” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/eric-hoffer-343_ability_the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-belie_347252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/eric-hoffer-343_ability_the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-belie_347252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/eric-hoffer-343_ability_the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-belie_347252.jpg) > “The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable report or evidence about Russia, nor will he be disillusioned by seeing with his own eyes the cruel misery inside the Soviet promised land. It is the true believer's ability to "shut his eyes and stop his ears" to facts that do not deserve to be either seen or heard which is the source of his unequaled fortitude and constancy. He cannot be frightened by danger, nor disheartened by obstacles, nor baffled by contradictions because he denies their existence.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fanatical believer ignores contradictory evidence, creating a false sense of strength and unwavering commitment. **In simple terms:** Blind loyalty creates false confidence. Key Takeaway Question evidence, seek truth. Themes fanaticism belief cognitive bias Mood cautious critical reflective Type philosophical analytical warning When to use this quote - political activism - media consumption - personal relationships - decision making Key Concepts psychology propaganda ideology Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify facts when they challenge your beliefs? - What costs arise from ignoring uncomfortable truths? A Different Perspective Such denial can lead to dangerous misjudgments and moral blindness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Constancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Disheartened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disheartened/) [Disillusioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disillusioned/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fortitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortitude/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Promised land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promised-land/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [True believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-believer/) ## Related quotes > [“Here's to bottle caps,the Yankees, and 'birds', and most of all"...he paused and lowered his voice to a whisper.." and,most of all to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/here-s-to-bottle-caps-the-yankees-and-birds-and-most-of-all-he-paused/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [Optimism refuses to believe that the road ends without options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/optimism-refuses-to-believe-that-the-road-ends-without-options/) [Robert H. 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I came a long way to meet the Wizard of Oz, but I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/i-walked-away-a-little-disheartened-thinking-oh-well-i-came-a-long/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [“Don't get disheartened one mile into a marathon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/don-t-get-disheartened-one-mile-into-a-marathon/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [Sooner or later, many idealists transform themselves into disheartened realists who mistakenly believe that giving up is the same thing as being realistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/sooner-or-later-many-idealists-transform-themselves-into-disheartened/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The source is within you. And this whole world is springing up from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-source-is-within-you-and-this-whole-world-is-springing-up-from-it/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Hope is Nature's Defibrillator (The Sonnet) Hope is nature's defibrillator that, Electrifies the heart to unsubmission. Hope rescues us from the depths of despair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/hope-is-nature-s-defibrillator-the-sonnet-hope-is-nature-s/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [I am an Episcopalian who takes the faith of my fathers seriously, and I would, I think, be disheartened if my own young children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/i-am-an-episcopalian-who-takes-the-faith-of-my-fathers-seriously-and/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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