--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Soviet state was, in fact, almost…" description: "\"“The Soviet state was, in fact, almost perfectly designed to make people unhappy. It denied its citizens not just hope, but also trust. Every activity ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/oliver-bullough-45178_almost-perfect_the-soviet-state-was-in-fact-almost-perf_2992904.jpg" --- # The Soviet state was, in fact, almost perfectly designed… ![“The Soviet state was, in fact, almost perfectly designed to make people unhappy. It denied its citizens not just hope, but also trust. Every activity had to be sanctioned by the state. Any person could be an informant. No action could be guaranteed to be without consequence. Father Dmitry preached…” quote by Oliver Bullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/oliver-bullough-45178_almost-perfect_the-soviet-state-was-in-fact-almost-perf_2992904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/oliver-bullough-45178_almost-perfect_the-soviet-state-was-in-fact-almost-perf_2992904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/oliver-bullough-45178_almost-perfect_the-soviet-state-was-in-fact-almost-perf_2992904.jpg) > ““The Soviet state was, in fact, almost perfectly designed to make people unhappy. It denied its citizens not just hope, but also trust. Every activity had to be sanctioned by the state. Any person could be an informant. No action could be guaranteed to be without consequence. Father Dmitry preached friendship and warmth and belief to his parishioners, and inspired a generation to live as humans and not as parts of a machine.”” [Oliver Bullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-bullough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A totalitarian system erodes hope and trust, turning citizens into wary participants. **In simple terms:** Oppression kills hope and trust. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of surveillance. Themes authoritarianism trust hope Mood reflective somber Type historical analytical When to use this quote - historical analysis - political discourse - human rights advocacy Key Concepts social control psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - Can trust be rebuilt after oppression? - What restores hope in such societies? A Different Perspective Some may argue stability outweighs personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-russia/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Father Dmitry\] “lived through collectivization, the crushing of the 80 percent of Russians that were peasants. He served as a soldier in World War… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-bullough/father-dmitry-lived-through-collectivization-the-crushing-of-the-80/) [Oliver Bullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-bullough/) > [ “\[The Soviet State Security Service\] is more than a secret police organization, more than an intelligence and counter-intelligence organization. It is an instrument for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-dulles/the-soviet-state-security-service-is-more-than-a-secret-police/) Allen W. Dulles > [“Father Dmitry had thought he had been serving his nation by spreading trust, and fighting abortion and despair, but, in doing so, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-bullough/father-dmitry-had-thought-he-had-been-serving-his-nation-by-spreading/) [Oliver Bullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-bullough/) > [Fear is a dangerous thing. Once it is sanctioned by the state there is no telling where it might lead. It is always a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/fear-is-a-dangerous-thing-once-it-is-sanctioned-by-the-state-there-is/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [The Soviet State does not need either illusions or camouflage. 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