--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It had long been realized that the only…" description: "\"“It had long been realized that the only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism. Wealth and privilege are most easily defended when they are posses..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/george-orwell-57_quote_it-had-long-been-realized-that-the-only_963521.jpg" --- # It had long been realized that the only secure basis for… ![“It had long been realized that the only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism. Wealth and privilege are most easily defended when they are possessed jointly.” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/george-orwell-57_quote_it-had-long-been-realized-that-the-only_963521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/george-orwell-57_quote_it-had-long-been-realized-that-the-only_963521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/george-orwell-57_quote_it-had-long-been-realized-that-the-only_963521.jpg) > ““It had long been realized that the only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism. Wealth and privilege are most easily defended when they are possessed jointly.”” [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Oligarchy thrives when wealth is shared, making it harder to challenge collective power. **In simple terms:** Shared wealth protects ruling groups. Key Takeaway Question collective power structures. Themes politics power collectivism Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - social movements - economic analysis Key Concepts oligarchy wealth distribution Questions to Reflect On - Is shared wealth always a tool of oppression? - When does collectivism become democratic? A Different Perspective Collectivism can also empower marginalized groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basis Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basis-oligarchy-1758267/) [Collectivism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivism/) [Collectivism Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivism-wealth-1758269/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Oligarchy Collectivism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy-collectivism-1758268/) ## Related quotes > [“the only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism. 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Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [In the last presidential election Obama and Romney raised about $1 billion each. The Koch brothers, the second wealthiest family in America, now say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/in-the-last-presidential-election-obama-and-romney-raised-about-1/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The legislator should direct his attention above all to the education of youth; for the neglect of education does harm to the constitution. 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If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) ## More by George Orwell > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-given-out-that-the-animals-there-practised-cannibalism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The actual writing would be easy. 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In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/don-t-you-see-that-the-whole-aim-of-newspeak-is-to-narrow-the-range/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on--that is, badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/windmill-or-no-windmill-he-said-life-would-go-on-as-it-had-always/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing-he-does-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [And the bigger the fall, the bigger the joke. It would be better fun to throw a custard pie at a bishop than at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-the-bigger-the-fall-the-bigger-the-joke-it-would-be-better-fun-to/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Any writer or journalist who wants to retain his integrity finds himself thwarted by the general drift of society rather than by active persecution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/any-writer-or-journalist-who-wants-to-retain-his-integrity-finds/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) [Explore all 1,657 George Orwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More Collectivism 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/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. 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Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“He needed the people and the clamour around him. 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