---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Romania, which had the worst dictator in…"
description: "\"Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe, Ceausescu, he was a darling of the West. The United States and Britain loved him. He was suppo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg"
---

#  Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe…

![“Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe, Ceausescu, he was a darling of the West. The United States and Britain loved him. He was supported until the last minute.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg)

> “Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe, Ceausescu, he was a darling of the West. The United States and Britain loved him. He was supported until the last minute.”

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ceausescu was once praised by the West despite his oppressive regime, illustrating geopolitical blind spots.

**In simple terms:** West once admired a brutal leader.

Key Takeaway

Critically assess political alliances.

Themes

history politics propaganda power illusion

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- public opinion
- media narratives

Key Concepts

Cold War Western foreign policy dictatorship

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do nations overlook dictators?
- What lessons apply to current foreign policy?

A Different Perspective

Western support can ignore human rights abuses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Eastern europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-europe/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Last minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-minute/) [Romania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romania/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/)

## Related quotes

> [Even the worst dictator, there is not a single one of them who would say "Oh yes, I violate human rights." They all claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/even-the-worst-dictator-there-is-not-a-single-one-of-them-who-would/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Romania can be a linchpin in delivering gas to its neighbors and even become an energy exporter for its neighbors across Central and Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/romania-can-be-a-linchpin-in-delivering-gas-to-its-neighbors-and-even/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [In fact, what were called the socialist countries in Eastern Europe were the most anti-socialist systems in the world. Workers had more rights in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-fact-what-were-called-the-socialist-countries-in-eastern-europe/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [“Well, let me just end with one last point to do with your question. One of the issues which has devastated a substantial portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/well-let-me-just-end-with-one-last-point-to-do-with-your-question-one/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Most of intellectuals are false prophets, flatterers of the court. The real prophets are the exception and treated badly. How badly they're treated depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/most-of-intellectuals-are-false-prophets-flatterers-of-the-court-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [It's never easy at the Olympic level. Russia, Romania and China always are contenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaycie-phelps/it-s-never-easy-at-the-olympic-level-russia-romania-and-china-always/)

Jaycie Phelps

> [I am very familiar with Hungary, because I grew up in Romania, which borders it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-karolyi/i-am-very-familiar-with-hungary-because-i-grew-up-in-romania-which/)

[Bela Karolyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-karolyi/)

> [I saw so many opportunities in the U.S. because I knew that I could make a living doing things I could never do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-soare/i-saw-so-many-opportunities-in-the-u-s-because-i-knew-that-i-could/)

[Anastasia Soare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia-soare/)

> [They sense that there's a majority out there and that the emotions are all on the other side-if they can be heard. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/they-sense-that-there-s-a-majority-out-there-and-that-the-emotions/)

[Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/)

> [I was a professional chess player in Romania, but only a small-time master. When I came to France, I continued playing chess for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/i-was-a-professional-chess-player-in-romania-but-only-a-small-time/)

[Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/)

> [I can go on forever, Romania is so beautiful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-aarons/i-can-go-on-forever-romania-is-so-beautiful/)

[Bonnie Aarons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-aarons/)

> [One of the great things about the Internet is that people are excited about music and wanna hear a random album from a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-droste/one-of-the-great-things-about-the-internet-is-that-people-are-excited/)

[Ed Droste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-droste/)

> [More than ever, Romania now needs to see that a force exists that puts an end to Ponta and Antonescu's abuses and coup d'etat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traian-basescu/more-than-ever-romania-now-needs-to-see-that-a-force-exists-that-puts/)

[Traian Basescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traian-basescu/)

> [You arrogant, overpublicized, showy old bat, what are you waiting for? Aren't you the king of all bogeymen? The legend children fear will devour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-arrogant-overpublicized-showy-old-bat-what-are-you-waiting-for/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [There is no breach of European rules committed by companies from Romania or on Romanian territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/there-is-no-breach-of-european-rules-committed-by-companies-from/)

[Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/)

## More by Noam Chomsky

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

[Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More Britain quotes

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [In Britain, the press want to kill a show by revealing what's coming up and spoiling the pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/in-britain-the-press-want-to-kill-a-show-by-revealing-what-s-coming/)

[Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/)

> [If we don't like modern Britain, then it is very unlikely that modern Britain will like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-don-t-like-modern-britain-then-it-is-very-unlikely-that-modern/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/)

[Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/)

> [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/)

[Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/)

> [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/)

[Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/)

> [We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/we-from-every-religion-feel-comfortable-in-britain-because-there-is-a/)

[Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/)

> [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/)

[Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/)

> [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/)

[Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/)

> [ As for whether what happened in Britain improves\[Donald\] Trump's chances of winning, I don't think so. He has the same chances; we may just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/as-for-whether-what-happened-in-britain-improves-donald-trump-s/)

[Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/)

> [Britain, like other European states, is not and never will again be in the top-world-power league, so its male leaders can afford to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/britain-like-other-european-states-is-not-and-never-will-again-be-in/)

[Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/)

> [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/)

[Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/)

> [Germany has always stood for an E.U. of the 27 countries. But in light of Britain's continued resistance to further integration steps, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/germany-has-always-stood-for-an-e-u-of-the-27-countries-but-in-light/)

[Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/)

[Browse all 1,648 Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe, Ceausescu, he was a darling of the West. The United States and Britain loved him. He was supported until the last minute.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in-eastern-europe-ceausescu-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Britain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in-eastern-europe-ceausescu-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/noam-chomsky-42_britain_romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in_2493118.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Romania, which had the worst dictator in Eastern Europe, Ceausescu, he was a darling of the West. The United…” — Noam Chomsky",
                "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": "Noam Chomsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Romania, which had the worst dictator...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in-eastern-europe-ceausescu-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/romania-which-had-the-worst-dictator-in-eastern-europe-ceausescu-he/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
