--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are fifty or a hundred years behind…" description: "\"We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/joseph-stalin-1734_behinds_we-are-fifty-or-a-hundred-years-behind-t_1977364.jpg" --- # We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced… ![“We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us.” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/joseph-stalin-1734_behinds_we-are-fifty-or-a-hundred-years-behind-t_1977364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/joseph-stalin-1734_behinds_we-are-fifty-or-a-hundred-years-behind-t_1977364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/joseph-stalin-1734_behinds_we-are-fifty-or-a-hundred-years-behind-t_1977364.jpg) > “We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us.” [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stalin urges rapid modernization to avoid subjugation by more advanced nations. **In simple terms:** Catch up quickly or be dominated. Key Takeaway Act now to close the gap. Themes progress nationalism urgency Mood determined tense Type political motivational When to use this quote - economic planning - military preparedness - education reform - infrastructure development Key Concepts industrialization geopolitics collectivism Questions to Reflect On - How can a nation balance speed with sustainability? - What risks arise from forced rapid change? A Different Perspective Assumes uniform capacity to mobilize resources; may ignore human costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) ## Related quotes > [I found I could also be good in cross country. I don't think my running style has anything to do with it. 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If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-countries-where-if-we-make-a-product-and-we-send-it-to-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [As a nation, China, is one of the most powerful countries around and if anyone can make something happen, if anything is in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/as-a-nation-china-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-countries-around-and-if/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [I think strong countries and strong nationalist movements in countries make strong neighbors. And that is really the building blocks that built Western Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/i-think-strong-countries-and-strong-nationalist-movements-in/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [Countries make policies for themselves. And Donald Trump wants to make - that's his policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yarmuth/countries-make-policies-for-themselves-and-donald-trump-wants-to-make/) [John Yarmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yarmuth/) > [We never tell countries that they should have a particular number in terms of a tax number, you know, if countries can make do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/we-never-tell-countries-that-they-should-have-a-particular-number-in/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [The U.K.-U.S. defense relationship is the broadest, deepest and most advanced of any two countries, sharing military hardware and expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/the-u-k-u-s-defense-relationship-is-the-broadest-deepest-and-most/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [“Many countries have state-dominated or state-run systems with little competition. 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Israel is advancing in high-tech even more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/thanks-to-quality-education-israel-is-one-of-the-most-advanced/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The war is relentless: it puts the alternative in a ruthless relief: either to perish, or to catch up with the advanced countries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-war-is-relentless-it-puts-the-alternative-in-a-ruthless-relief/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Norway or Switzerland are two marvelous countries, I very much admire, the most advanced countries in the world in fact with great qualities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/norway-or-switzerland-are-two-marvelous-countries-i-very-much-admire/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [The U.S. is still in a pretty good spot, especially relative to other advanced countries. The aging of our population is not as pronounced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-u-s-is-still-in-a-pretty-good-spot-especially-relative-to-other/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) ## More by Joseph Stalin > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [There is no nation in the whole world desiring war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/there-is-no-nation-in-the-whole-world-desiring-war/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Our Red Army now needs IL-2 aircraft like the air it breathes, like the bread it eats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/our-red-army-now-needs-il-2-aircraft-like-the-air-it-breathes-like/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [If things should go too far and deportation of all whiteguard emigres from the United States were demanded, this would be an attempt against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/if-things-should-go-too-far-and-deportation-of-all-whiteguard-emigres/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [We think that a powerful and vigorous movement is impossible without differences - "true conformity" is possible only in the cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/we-think-that-a-powerful-and-vigorous-movement-is-impossible-without/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ \[American Communist Party\] legally exists in the U.S.A., it nominates its candidates in the elections, including Presidential elections. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/american-communist-party-legally-exists-in-the-u-s-a-it-nominates-its/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [“Gratitude is an illness suffered by dogs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/gratitude-is-an-illness-suffered-by-dogs/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [A man's eyes should be torn out if he can only see the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/a-man-s-eyes-should-be-torn-out-if-he-can-only-see-the-past/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/one-death-is-a-tragedy-a-million-is-a-statistic/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/education-is-a-weapon-whose-effect-depends-on-who-holds-it-in-his/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [To slacken the tempo...would mean falling behind. And those who fall behind get beaten...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/to-slacken-the-tempo-would-mean-falling-behind-and-those-who-fall/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [You do not lament the loss of hair of one who has been beheaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/you-do-not-lament-the-loss-of-hair-of-one-who-has-been-beheaded/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [The Red Army and Navy and the whole Soviet people must fight for every inch of Soviet soil, fight to the last drop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/the-red-army-and-navy-and-the-whole-soviet-people-must-fight-for/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ I admit that I do not recall the speeches of Comrades \[Earl\] Browder and \[Samuel\] Darcy. I do not even recall of what they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/i-admit-that-i-do-not-recall-the-speeches-of-comrades-earl-browder/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [He who casts a vote decides nothing. He who counts the vote decides everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/he-who-casts-a-vote-decides-nothing-he-who-counts-the-vote-decides/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) [Explore all 208 Joseph Stalin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. 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If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. 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