--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But in the West today, we see a free…" description: "\"But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/ronald-reagan-119_ancient_but-in-the-west-today-we-see-a-free-worl_2267798.jpg" --- # But in the West today, we see a free world that has… ![“But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind - too little food. Even today…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/ronald-reagan-119_ancient_but-in-the-west-today-we-see-a-free-worl_2267798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/ronald-reagan-119_ancient_but-in-the-west-today-we-see-a-free-worl_2267798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/ronald-reagan-119_ancient_but-in-the-west-today-we-see-a-free-worl_2267798.jpg) > “But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind - too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom, when protected, tends to foster economic growth and higher living standards, while authoritarian regimes often struggle with scarcity and poor health outcomes. **In simple terms:** Freedom promotes wealth and health; oppression leads to poverty. Key Takeaway Support policies that protect liberty and open markets. Themes freedom prosperity politics economics health Mood optimistic serious Type political economic When to use this quote - policy making - international aid - economic reform - public health - education Key Concepts capitalism democracy human rights development Questions to Reflect On - How does freedom interact with other social factors? - Can prosperity exist without political freedom? A Different Perspective Freedom alone does not guarantee equality; other factors like governance and institutions matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Free world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-world/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-history/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There are many people in the world who really don't understand-or say they don't-what is the great issue between the free world and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-are-many-people-in-the-world-who-really-don-t-understand-or-say-2/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-are-many-people-in-the-world-who-really-don-t-understand-or-say/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Every human on the planet is descended from both slaves and slave owners. What makes Britain unusual is not that we engaged in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hannan/every-human-on-the-planet-is-descended-from-both-slaves-and-slave/) [Daniel Hannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-hannan/) > [We are all proud of is World War II where we went in, we were decisive, we came to the conclusion that freedom prevailed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-are-all-proud-of-is-world-war-ii-where-we-went-in-we-were-decisive/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that freedom is the only thing that matters to me at all. Also utter irresponsibility! Never to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/i-m-rapidly-coming-to-the-conclusion-that-freedom-is-the-only-thing/) [Daphne Du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [The real cure to immigration, obviously, is to make sure that there is prosperity around the world so that people don't have the motive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/the-real-cure-to-immigration-obviously-is-to-make-sure-that-there-is/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“The natural state of our economy is prosperity. Freedom guarantees that. The only force capable of undermining it is government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-natural-state-of-our-economy-is-prosperity-freedom-guarantees/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Conservatives tend to believe there is a close and necessary connection between prosperity and freedom - that economic freedom is an essential part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-feulner/conservatives-tend-to-believe-there-is-a-close-and-necessary/) [Edwin Feulner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-feulner/) > [“whether in London’s ornate arcades or Rio’s fractious favelas, whether in the high-rises of Hong Kong or the dusty workspaces of Dharavi, our culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-l-glaeser/whether-in-london-s-ornate-arcades-or-rio-s-fractious-favelas-whether/) Edward L. Glaeser > [“A predominantly voluntary exchange economy, on the other hand, has within it the potential to promote both prosperity and human freedom. It may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-freidman/a-predominantly-voluntary-exchange-economy-on-the-other-hand-has/) Milton Freidman > [Spiritual leaders say that as a matter of course prosperity will come when you are pursuing the right things with your life. To feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/spiritual-leaders-say-that-as-a-matter-of-course-prosperity-will-come/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Innovation makes the world go round. It brings prosperity and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-metcalfe/innovation-makes-the-world-go-round-it-brings-prosperity-and-freedom/) [Robert Metcalfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-metcalfe/) > [Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/prosperity-without-freedom-is-just-another-form-of-poverty/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It will take an unprecedented act of courage, on a grand scale. You may have to do something virtually unknown in the annals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/it-will-take-an-unprecedented-act-of-courage-on-a-grand-scale-you-may/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [America’s founding ideal was the principle of individual rights. Nothing more-and nothing less. The rest-everything that America achieved, everything she became, everything 'noble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/america-s-founding-ideal-was-the-principle-of-individual-rights/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. 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