--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around 1967 I began backing away from…" description: "\"Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism, not so much because I thought it was false, I just decided there was nothing utopian about it...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png" --- # Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism… ![“Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism, not so much because I thought it was false, I just decided there was nothing utopian about it.” quote by Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png) > “Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism, not so much because I thought it was false, I just decided there was nothing utopian about it.” [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He rejected Leninist doctrine not because it was false, but because it lacked realistic hope. **In simple terms:** Abandoning idealism when it offers no practical vision. Key Takeaway Question the practicality of political ideologies. Themes politics ideology realism Mood critical contemplative Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - academic debate - personal belief formation - policy design Key Concepts utopianism disillusionment intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to dogmatic ideology seem viable? - Can realism coexist with hopeful goals? A Different Perspective Idealist visions can still inspire useful change despite flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backing away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backing-away/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Decided Utopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided-utopian-1054687/) [Dogmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogmatic/) [Dogmatic Leninism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogmatic-leninism-1054685/) [Leninism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leninism/) [Leninism Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leninism-thought-1054686/) [Utopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopian/) ## Related quotes > [I'm strong. I'm myself. I'm done saying sorry for things that aren't my fault. I'm done backing down and away when I didn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-m-strong-i-m-myself-i-m-done-saying-sorry-for-things-that-aren-t-my/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I get that that the violent illegal immigrants will be removed from the country. But what I am not hearing and I am wondering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-get-that-that-the-violent-illegal-immigrants-will-be-removed-from/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [Democrats have a history of backing away, backing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/democrats-have-a-history-of-backing-away-backing-down/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [MR.GOUDY: I believe you testified that you backed away from Aaron Wharton. MR.COGBURN: That is right. MR.GOUDY: You were backing away? MR.COGBURN: Yes sir.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/mr-goudy-i-believe-you-testified-that-you-backed-away-from-aaron/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“I don’t think you’d hurt me.” He had been paying attention to the knife and not the conversation. “Baby, if you had any idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-zanetti/i-don-t-think-you-d-hurt-me-he-had-been-paying-attention-to-the-knife/) [Rebecca Zanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-zanetti/) > [His brother maintained that what sent people backing away was neither his size nor his mother's blood, but solely the expression on his face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/his-brother-maintained-that-what-sent-people-backing-away-was-neither/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [And stop doing that,” he said. “Backing away, giving me that look.” Like you’re scaring me? Maybe you are.” He stepped back so fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/and-stop-doing-that-he-said-backing-away-giving-me-that-look-like-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Violet heard the coughing and came running back. She sank down on the bench beside Rose, putting her arm around the older girl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-day-george/violet-heard-the-coughing-and-came-running-back-she-sank-down-on-the/) [Jessica Day George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-day-george/) > [“She was backing away from him now. Don’t go, was his first panicked thought. Followed by: Hurry up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/she-was-backing-away-from-him-now-don-t-go-was-his-first-panicked/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/sometimes-you-can-only-find-heaven-by-slowly-backing-away-from-hell/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [“I heard someone say once that many of us only seem able to find heaven by backing away from hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-heard-someone-say-once-that-many-of-us-only-seem-able-to-find/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/he-who-lays-up-treasures-on-earth-spends-his-life-backing-away-from/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“I said no. You’re not backing away from this. From me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-said-no-you-re-not-backing-away-from-this-from-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If, when you talk to people, they keep backing away from you, it's because you're TOO CLOSE, alright? SO DON'T KEEP ADVANCING ON THEM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-when-you-talk-to-people-they-keep-backing-away-from-you-it-s/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/he-who-lays-up-treasures-in-heaven-looks-forward-to-eternity/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## More by Henry Flynt > [I began composing works which were imitative of the music I was being told about. I was also very interested in translating the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-began-composing-works-which-were-imitative-of-the-music-i-was-being/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [I'm trying to assemble materials for a different mode of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-m-trying-to-assemble-materials-for-a-different-mode-of-life/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [Since 'concepts' are closely bound up with language, concept art is a kind of art of which the material is language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/since-concepts-are-closely-bound-up-with-language-concept-art-is-a/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [Basically, at this time, I viewed any work of art as an imposition of another person's taste and saw the individual making this imposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/basically-at-this-time-i-viewed-any-work-of-art-as-an-imposition-of/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [In classical oil painting, there seemed to be a radical turn to seeing things as the camera sees them, with that technological modification. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/in-classical-oil-painting-there-seemed-to-be-a-radical-turn-to-seeing/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [When I came to New York, I began to meet the people who became the most famous artists of our time. I was insecure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/when-i-came-to-new-york-i-began-to-meet-the-people-who-became-the/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [When somebody says that all statements are false, the obvious problem is that as an assertion it's self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/when-somebody-says-that-all-statements-are-false-the-obvious-problem/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [I was a student at Harvard, and that's where I learned about so-called avant-garde music. Jackson Pollock, abstract expressionism and painting were well known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-was-a-student-at-harvard-and-that-s-where-i-learned-about-so-called/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [When I began competing with the other artists in New York, I discovered classical North Indian music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/when-i-began-competing-with-the-other-artists-in-new-york-i/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [At the same time, I was listening to black music, and I began to think that the best musicians were receiving the worst treatment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/at-the-same-time-i-was-listening-to-black-music-and-i-began-to-think/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [A fully open mind could shatter the skull in both directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/a-fully-open-mind-could-shatter-the-skull-in-both-directions/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [Basically, I viewed any work of art as an imposition of another person's taste, and saw the individual making this imposition as a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/basically-i-viewed-any-work-of-art-as-an-imposition-of-another-person/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [The whole drive of western culture, the part of it which is serious, is towards an extreme objectification. It's carried to the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/the-whole-drive-of-western-culture-the-part-of-it-which-is-serious-is/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [I began demonstrating against serious culture. In hindsight, the actual course of events has been very humiliating for me, because no one picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-began-demonstrating-against-serious-culture-in-hindsight-the-actual/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) > [I have a picture of an ideal consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/i-have-a-picture-of-an-ideal-consciousness/) [Henry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) [Explore all 19 Henry Flynt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/) ## More Backing away quotes > [I'm strong. I'm myself. I'm done saying sorry for things that aren't my fault. I'm done backing down and away when I didn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-m-strong-i-m-myself-i-m-done-saying-sorry-for-things-that-aren-t-my/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [If, when you talk to people, they keep backing away from you, it's because you're TOO CLOSE, alright? SO DON'T KEEP ADVANCING ON THEM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-when-you-talk-to-people-they-keep-backing-away-from-you-it-s/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“I said no. You’re not backing away from this. From me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-said-no-you-re-not-backing-away-from-this-from-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/he-who-lays-up-treasures-on-earth-spends-his-life-backing-away-from/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“I heard someone say once that many of us only seem able to find heaven by backing away from hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-heard-someone-say-once-that-many-of-us-only-seem-able-to-find/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/sometimes-you-can-only-find-heaven-by-slowly-backing-away-from-hell/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [“She was backing away from him now. Don’t go, was his first panicked thought. Followed by: Hurry up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/she-was-backing-away-from-him-now-don-t-go-was-his-first-panicked/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [Violet heard the coughing and came running back. She sank down on the bench beside Rose, putting her arm around the older girl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-day-george/violet-heard-the-coughing-and-came-running-back-she-sank-down-on-the/) [Jessica Day George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-day-george/) > [And stop doing that,” he said. “Backing away, giving me that look.” Like you’re scaring me? Maybe you are.” He stepped back so fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/and-stop-doing-that-he-said-backing-away-giving-me-that-look-like-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [His brother maintained that what sent people backing away was neither his size nor his mother's blood, but solely the expression on his face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/his-brother-maintained-that-what-sent-people-backing-away-was-neither/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“I don’t think you’d hurt me.” He had been paying attention to the knife and not the conversation. “Baby, if you had any idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-zanetti/i-don-t-think-you-d-hurt-me-he-had-been-paying-attention-to-the-knife/) [Rebecca Zanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-zanetti/) > [MR.GOUDY: I believe you testified that you backed away from Aaron Wharton. MR.COGBURN: That is right. MR.GOUDY: You were backing away? MR.COGBURN: Yes sir.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/mr-goudy-i-believe-you-testified-that-you-backed-away-from-aaron/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [Democrats have a history of backing away, backing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/democrats-have-a-history-of-backing-away-backing-down/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I get that that the violent illegal immigrants will be removed from the country. But what I am not hearing and I am wondering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-get-that-that-the-violent-illegal-immigrants-will-be-removed-from/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/he-who-lays-up-treasures-in-heaven-looks-forward-to-eternity/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) [Browse all 21 Backing away quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backing-away/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism, not so much because I thought it was false, I just decided there was nothing utopian about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Flynt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-dogmatic-leninism-not-so-much/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backing away" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-dogmatic-leninism-not-so-much/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/henry-flynt-28897_backing-away_around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-do_1690909.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Around 1967 I began backing away from dogmatic Leninism, not so much because I thought it was false, I just…” — Henry Flynt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Flynt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-flynt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Around 1967 I began backing away...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-dogmatic-leninism-not-so-much/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-flynt/around-1967-i-began-backing-away-from-dogmatic-leninism-not-so-much/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```