--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Road To Serfdom was written during…" description: "\"The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically it's an anti-Nazi, anti-communist thing, but also it's an anti-Conservative and anti-Labor-p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/p-j-o-rourke-184_anti-communist_the-road-to-serfdom-was-written-during-w_2884360.jpg" --- # The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically… ![“The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically it's an anti-Nazi, anti-communist thing, but also it's an anti-Conservative and anti-Labor-party thing aimed at the British. He was an Austrian, writing in Britain. And I feel like now, I guess, everybody pays lip service to libertarian…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/p-j-o-rourke-184_anti-communist_the-road-to-serfdom-was-written-during-w_2884360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/p-j-o-rourke-184_anti-communist_the-road-to-serfdom-was-written-during-w_2884360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/p-j-o-rourke-184_anti-communist_the-road-to-serfdom-was-written-during-w_2884360.jpg) > “The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically it's an anti-Nazi, anti-communist thing, but also it's an anti-Conservative and anti-Labor-party thing aimed at the British. He was an Austrian, writing in Britain. And I feel like now, I guess, everybody pays lip service to libertarian - and, indeed, many conservative - ideas, and yet they keep moving forward with an increasingly bureaucratic state. It shows itself in all sorts of little ways.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author notes that while the original warned against totalitarianism, modern politics still echo its anti‑state message, yet bureaucratic growth persists across ideologies. **In simple terms:** The classic warns against big government, but modern states keep expanding. Key Takeaway Beware expanding state power regardless of ideology. Themes political theory history libertarianism bureaucracy ideology Mood cautious analytical skeptical Type political educational When to use this quote - policy analysis - civic engagement - academic study - public debate Key Concepts political science economics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What limits should government have? - How can citizens check bureaucratic growth? A Different Perspective Libertarian critiques may overlook necessary regulation for public welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-communist/) [Anti conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-conservative/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Lip service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lip-service/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Nazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nazi/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Road to serfdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-to-serfdom/) [Serfdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serfdom/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The Road To Serfdom is about capitalism. That’s why on the side of that road you’ll find me, in a kiosk, selling ankle chains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-road-to-serfdom-is-about-capitalism-that-s-why-on-the-side-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [ Two-thirds of a century after \[The Road to Serfdom\] got written, hindsight confirms how inaccurate its innuendo about the future turned out to be. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/two-thirds-of-a-century-after-the-road-to-serfdom-got-written/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [.. the publication of Friedrich A. von Hayek's The Road to Serfdom in 1944 is rightly seen as the first shot in the intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/the-publication-of-friedrich-a-von-hayek-s-the-road-to-serfdom-in/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ Ever read any \[Friedrich\] Hayek? He's great. The Road To Serfdom is like... I'm not a big political-science reader, but I actually dog-eared my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/ever-read-any-friedrich-hayek-he-s-great-the-road-to-serfdom-is-like/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [A libertarian is a conservative who got mugged by his government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-libertarian-is-a-conservative-who-got-mugged-by-his-government/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would say to people of a libertarian conservative position on an issue, do not do a taped interview. You're going to come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/i-would-say-to-people-of-a-libertarian-conservative-position-on-an/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [The difference between Libertarian and Conservative is that Conservatives understand this, and know that unregulated capitalism will eventually end with human meat sold in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/the-difference-between-libertarian-and-conservative-is-that/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [I'm a libertarian-conservative. I believe the state should focus on defending lives, rights, and property instead of depriving its citizens of their God-given liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-m-a-libertarian-conservative-i-believe-the-state-should-focus-on/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [My personal credo as a libertarian conservative: I think all attempts to reform your fellow-citizens or tell them how to live their lives are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/my-personal-credo-as-a-libertarian-conservative-i-think-all-attempts/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Well, I'm a libertarian conservative, so I believe in limited government/maximum individual freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/well-i-m-a-libertarian-conservative-so-i-believe-in-limited/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I think Tierney is also more libertarian than he is conservative in the conventional sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-okrent/i-think-tierney-is-also-more-libertarian-than-he-is-conservative-in/) [Daniel Okrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-okrent/) > [I am an anti-Conservative politician, and that's how I would lead our party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/i-am-an-anti-conservative-politician-and-that-s-how-i-would-lead-our/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [I wonder how many times you have to be hit on the head before you find out who's hitting you? It's about time that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-wonder-how-many-times-you-have-to-be-hit-on-the-head-before-you/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." 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They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Anti communist quotes > [I wasn't part of John Kennedy's vision of the world, or Lyndon Johnson's. I thought of them as anti-Communist imperial monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-wasn-t-part-of-john-kennedy-s-vision-of-the-world-or-lyndon-johnson/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I was an anti-communist before I was political in other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/i-was-an-anti-communist-before-i-was-political-in-other-ways/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [It is in fact no exaggeration to say that we live in terror that Senator McCarthy will one day make some irreparable blunder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/it-is-in-fact-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-we-live-in-terror-that/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [Like medieval theologians we had a philosophy that explained everything to us in advance, and everything that did not fit could be readily identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/like-medieval-theologians-we-had-a-philosophy-that-explained/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Nixon's genius was that he was able to portray himself as the toughest of the anti-communists, and yet run on a platform that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/nixon-s-genius-was-that-he-was-able-to-portray-himself-as-the/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [“It is impossible to be an anti-Communist and it is not possible to be a Communist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/it-is-impossible-to-be-an-anti-communist-and-it-is-not-possible-to-be/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [Tyler Kent was a horrible man. He was a rabid anti-communist who believed that the Jews had been behind the Russian Revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-curtis/tyler-kent-was-a-horrible-man-he-was-a-rabid-anti-communist-who/) [Adam Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-curtis/) > [When I was younger, I thought of myself as a Nixon Republican because he was the anti-Communist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-was-younger-i-thought-of-myself-as-a-nixon-republican-because/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [I still am a virulent anti-communist. It is a bad system, an immoral system, and one that takes away the rights of people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-still-am-a-virulent-anti-communist-it-is-a-bad-system-an-immoral/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [Reagan survived the Iran-Contra scandal because the elements of it that were illegal (aiding anti-communist Nicaraguans) were popular and the things that were unpopular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/reagan-survived-the-iran-contra-scandal-because-the-elements-of-it/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Judging by their positions at the time, rather than their post hoc allegations, Democrats adored the Soviet Union. Congressional Democrats repeatedly opposed funding anti-Communist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/judging-by-their-positions-at-the-time-rather-than-their-post-hoc/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [In general, I distrust philosophy. Plato recommended chasing poets from the city; the 'great' Heidegger was a Nazi; Lukacs was a communist; and J.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-simon/in-general-i-distrust-philosophy-plato-recommended-chasing-poets-from/) [Claude Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-simon/) > [How do you tell a communist? Well, its someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? Its someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/how-do-you-tell-a-communist-well-its-someone-who-reads-marx-and-lenin/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Even if corners were cut, (Iran-Contra) was a brilliant scheme. There is no possibility that anyone in any Democratic administration would have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/even-if-corners-were-cut-iran-contra-was-a-brilliant-scheme-there-is/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Joseph McCarthy and the John Birch Society launched an anti-Communist crusade that won the support of millions of Americans in the 1950s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/joseph-mccarthy-and-the-john-birch-society-launched-an-anti-communist/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) [Browse all 18 Anti communist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-communist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically it's an anti-Nazi, anti-communist thing, but also it's an anti-Conservative and anti-Labor-party thing aimed at the British. He was an Austrian, writing in Britain. 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