--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the Soviet Union that runs against…" description: "\"It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history . . . . [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/ronald-reagan-119_ashes_it-is-the-soviet-union-that-runs-against_2608693.jpg" --- # It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of… ![“It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history . . . . [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history, as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/ronald-reagan-119_ashes_it-is-the-soviet-union-that-runs-against_2608693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/ronald-reagan-119_ashes_it-is-the-soviet-union-that-runs-against_2608693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/ronald-reagan-119_ashes_it-is-the-soviet-union-that-runs-against_2608693.jpg) > “It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history . . . . \[It is\] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history, as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.” [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 and democracy will outlast Marxism, which will become obsolete like past tyrannies. **In simple terms:** Freedom beats oppressive ideologies. Key Takeaway Support democratic values. Themes politics history freedom Mood determined hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - activism - education curricula Key Concepts ideology historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals promote freedom? - What lessons from history guide today? A Different Perspective Change may be slower than expected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom And Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-and-democracy/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Leninism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leninism/) [Marxism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marxism/) [Marxism leninism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marxism-leninism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Under Marxism-Leninism, the self-proclaimed ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, individuals do not possess inherent value. People are merely a tool to achieve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/under-marxism-leninism-the-self-proclaimed-ideology-of-the-chinese/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The theory of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin is universally applicable. We should regard it not as a dogma, but as a guide to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-theory-of-marx-engels-lenin-and-stalin-is-universally-applicable/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [We are indebted to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin for giving us a weapon. The weapon is not a machine-gun, but Marxism-Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-are-indebted-to-marx-engels-lenin-and-stalin-for-giving-us-a/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [No force, no torture, no intrigue can eradicate Marxism-Leninism from the minds and hearts of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/no-force-no-torture-no-intrigue-can-eradicate-marxism-leninism-from/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [How is Marxist-Leninist theory to be linked with the practice of the Chinese revolution? To use a common expression, it is by "shooting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/how-is-marxist-leninist-theory-to-be-linked-with-the-practice-of-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“The Party justified its “dictatorship” through purity of faith. Their Scriptures were the teachings of Marxism-Leninism, regarded as a “scientific” truth. Since ideology was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/the-party-justified-its-dictatorship-through-purity-of-faith-their/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [I don't think that the Soviet Union and China are accidents, aberrations; I think they follow from Marxism-Leninism. I think that Leninism comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-don-t-think-that-the-soviet-union-and-china-are-accidents/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Chairman Mao's greatest contribution was that he applied the principles of Marxism-Leninism to the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution, pointing the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/chairman-mao-s-greatest-contribution-was-that-he-applied-the/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [“Marxism-Leninism offered little guidance to rural Afghan society, with its ancient concepts and ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-feifer/marxism-leninism-offered-little-guidance-to-rural-afghan-society-with/) [Gregory Feifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-feifer/) > [“There is nothing illogical in the desire of the "have-nots" to appropriate the wealth of the "haves"; in fact, it is part and parcel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-f-c-fuller-2/there-is-nothing-illogical-in-the-desire-of-the-have-nots-to/) J.F.C. Fuller > [“Despite being some of the most powerful people in the world, the top men in the Kremlin were scared of stepping out of line.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/despite-being-some-of-the-most-powerful-people-in-the-world-the-top/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [We don't have an appreciable American left any more in the United States. What I saw of the SDS in the '60s was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/we-don-t-have-an-appreciable-american-left-any-more-in-the-united/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [As for the European far left, it has very little to do with Marxism-Leninism these days. It has more to do with anti-Semitism, racism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toomas-hendrik-ilves/as-for-the-european-far-left-it-has-very-little-to-do-with-marxism/) [Toomas Hendrik Ilves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toomas-hendrik-ilves/) > [“After 1968 the restored communist regime required all Czech rock musicians to sit a written exam in Marxism Leninism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/after-1968-the-restored-communist-regime-required-all-czech-rock/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) ## 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 Ashes quotes > [You can flush my ashes down the toilet, for all I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-flush-my-ashes-down-the-toilet-for-all-i-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-is-gold-does-not-glitter-not-all-those-who-wander-are-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [He said that he will never let you cry,he will always be there for you no matter how hard the situation is,that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhra/he-said-that-he-will-never-let-you-cry-he-will-always-be-there-for/) Zhra > [“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-past-is-to-be-learned-from-but-not-lived-in-we-look-back-to-claim/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [When any civilization is dust and ashes," he said, "art is all that's left over. Images, words, music. Imaginative structures. Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There is nothing quite like an Ashes trip Down Under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/there-is-nothing-quite-like-an-ashes-trip-down-under/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“When you burn a bridge, you have to be prepared to live with some ashes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coppernoll/when-you-burn-a-bridge-you-have-to-be-prepared-to-live-with-some-ashes/) [Chris Coppernoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coppernoll/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) [Browse all 900 Ashes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history . . . . 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