---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gratitude\", he said, quoting Stalin, \"is…"
description: "\"“Gratitude\", he said, quoting Stalin, \"is a dog's disease.”\" — Robert Harris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png"
---

#  Gratitude", he said, quoting Stalin, "is a dog's disease.

![“Gratitude&quot;, he said, quoting Stalin, &quot;is a dog's disease.” quote by Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png)

> ““Gratitude", he said, quoting Stalin, "is a dog's disease.””

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

## About This Quote

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

Stalin’s quote reduces gratitude to a disease, implying it’s a weakness.

**In simple terms:** Gratitude as weakness.

Key Takeaway

Question the value of gratitude.

Themes

politics psychology history

Mood

skeptical thoughtful

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- political discourse
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

authoritarianism human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- Is gratitude always detrimental?
- When can gratitude be strength?

A Different Perspective

Gratitude can also foster resilience and community.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Archangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archangel/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Robert-harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-harris/)

## Related quotes

> [“He felt more human with his boots on. A man can face the world with something on his feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-felt-more-human-with-his-boots-on-a-man-can-face-the-world-with/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“The foundations of Empire are often occasions of woe; their dismemberment, always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-foundations-of-empire-are-often-occasions-of-woe-their/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“Violence is Inevitable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/violence-is-inevitable/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“The most important thing in any endeavour is to get involved in the fight, and in that way learn what to do next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-most-important-thing-in-any-endeavour-is-to-get-involved-in-the/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“His scars and his tattoos were the medals of his lifetime. He was proud to wear them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/his-scars-and-his-tattoos-were-the-medals-of-his-lifetime-he-was/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“more enemies, more honour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/more-enemies-more-honour/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“Death solves all problems - no man, no problem. - J. V. Stalin, 1918 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/death-solves-all-problems-no-man-no-problem-j-v-stalin-1918/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“A comrade who deserts a comrade is a cowardly dog, and all such dogs should die a dog's death, comrade -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/a-comrade-who-deserts-a-comrade-is-a-cowardly-dog-and-all-such-dogs/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“History wasn't made without taking risks, that much he knew. So maybe sometimes you had to take risks to write it, too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/history-wasn-t-made-without-taking-risks-that-much-he-knew-so-maybe/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“Have you ever seen fishermen when a storm is brewing on a great river? I have seen them many a time. In the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/have-you-ever-seen-fishermen-when-a-storm-is-brewing-on-a-great-river/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He wondered what O'Brian would have been like in a real war, one in which he actually had to fight rather than just take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-wondered-what-o-brian-would-have-been-like-in-a-real-war-one-in/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He glanced around the reading room and closed his eyes, trying to keep hold of the past for a minute longer, a fattening and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-glanced-around-the-reading-room-and-closed-his-eyes-trying-to-keep/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“... unfortunately, freedom alone is not enough, by far. If there is a shortage of bread, a shortage of butter and fats, a shortage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/unfortunately-freedom-alone-is-not-enough-by-far-if-there-is-a/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed ... there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/to-choose-one-s-victims-to-prepare-one-s-plans-minutely-to-slake-an/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“... he tried to visualise her apartment, but he couldn't do it, he didn't know enough about her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-tried-to-visualise-her-apartment-but-he-couldn-t-do-it-he-didn-t/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

## More by Robert Harris

> [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/if-one-first-gives-himself-to-the-lord-all-other-giving-is-easy/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He felt more human with his boots on. A man can face the world with something on his feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-felt-more-human-with-his-boots-on-a-man-can-face-the-world-with/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/cicero-most-reminds-me-of-harold-wilson-both-men-knew-how-to-keep-the/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [The financial world is at the cutting edge of high technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-financial-world-is-at-the-cutting-edge-of-high-technology/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed ... there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/to-choose-one-s-victims-to-prepare-one-s-plans-minutely-to-slake-an/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“Nature has granted man no better gift than the shortness of life. The senses grow dull, the limbs are numb, sight, bearing, gait, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/nature-has-granted-man-no-better-gift-than-the-shortness-of-life-the/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-actually-this-was-worse-shit/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“... unfortunately, freedom alone is not enough, by far. If there is a shortage of bread, a shortage of butter and fats, a shortage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/unfortunately-freedom-alone-is-not-enough-by-far-if-there-is-a/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [It is perseverance, and not genius that takes a man to the top. Rome is full of unrecognized geniuses. Only perseverance enables you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-is-perseverance-and-not-genius-that-takes-a-man-to-the-top-rome-is/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“No one can really claim to know politics properly until he has stayed up all night writing a speech for delivery the following day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/no-one-can-really-claim-to-know-politics-properly-until-he-has-stayed/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [People perish. Books are immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/people-perish-books-are-immortal/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [Does a name stick because it suits a man or does the man, unconsciously, evolve into his name?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/does-a-name-stick-because-it-suits-a-man-or-does-the-man/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [“He glanced around the reading room and closed his eyes, trying to keep hold of the past for a minute longer, a fattening and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-glanced-around-the-reading-room-and-closed-his-eyes-trying-to-keep/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

> [The natural impulse of men is to follow and whoever has the strongest sense of purpose will always dominate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-natural-impulse-of-men-is-to-follow-and-whoever-has-the-strongest/)

[Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

[Explore all 184 Robert Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/)

## More Animal quotes

> [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/)

[Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/)

> [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/)

Mak\_786

> [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/)

[Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/)

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/)

[Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/)

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/)

[Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/)

> [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/)

[Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/)

[Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Gratitude\", he said, quoting Stalin, \"is a dog's disease.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-dog-s-disease/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Animal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-dog-s-disease/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/robert-harris-2039_animal_gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-do_1818873.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Gratitude\", he said, quoting Stalin, \"is a dog's disease.” — Robert Harris",
                "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": "Robert Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Gratitude\", he said, quoting Stalin, \"is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-dog-s-disease/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/gratitude-he-said-quoting-stalin-is-a-dog-s-disease/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
