--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll…" description: "\"“Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll pardon the language, miss,: Mr Roberts said. \"All this talk about power for the people and down with the ruling cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/rhys-bowen-24499_communism_idealistic-ruddy-stupid-if-you-ll-pardon_1902654.jpg" --- # Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll pardon the language… ![“Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll pardon the language, miss,: Mr Roberts said. "All this talk about power for the people and down with the ruling classes and everyone should govern themselves. It can never happen, I told him. The ruling classes are born to rule. They know how to do it. You take…” quote by Rhys Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/rhys-bowen-24499_communism_idealistic-ruddy-stupid-if-you-ll-pardon_1902654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/rhys-bowen-24499_communism_idealistic-ruddy-stupid-if-you-ll-pardon_1902654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/rhys-bowen-24499_communism_idealistic-ruddy-stupid-if-you-ll-pardon_1902654.jpg) > ““Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll pardon the language, miss,: Mr Roberts said. "All this talk about power for the people and down with the ruling classes and everyone should govern themselves. It can never happen, I told him. The ruling classes are born to rule. They know how to do it. You take a person like you or me and you put us up there to run a country and we'd make a ruddy mess of it.”” [Rhys Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-bowen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that ordinary people lack the competence to govern, implying that ruling elites are naturally suited to power. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people can’t govern well, elites are better. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of democratic idealism. Themes politics elitism governance skepticism Mood cynical critical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - leadership training - public policy design - citizen education Key Concepts authority competence social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - Can societies improve governance without elite rule? - What mechanisms can empower ordinary citizens? 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