--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the underdog socialists' biggest…" description: "\"But the underdog socialists' biggest problem isn't that they are wrong. They are not. Their biggest problem is that they're dull. Dull as a doorknob. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/rutger-bregman-2463_even_but-the-underdog-socialists-biggest-prob_1548321.jpg" --- # But the underdog socialists' biggest problem isn't that… ![“But the underdog socialists' biggest problem isn't that they are wrong. They are not. Their biggest problem is that they're dull. Dull as a doorknob. They've got no story to tell; nor even the language to convey it in.” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/rutger-bregman-2463_even_but-the-underdog-socialists-biggest-prob_1548321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/rutger-bregman-2463_even_but-the-underdog-socialists-biggest-prob_1548321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/rutger-bregman-2463_even_but-the-underdog-socialists-biggest-prob_1548321.jpg) > “But the underdog socialists' biggest problem isn't that they are wrong. They are not. Their biggest problem is that they're dull. Dull as a doorknob. They've got no story to tell; nor even the language to convey it in.” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The main issue with some socialists is not factual error but lack of compelling narrative and expressive language, making them unengaging. **In simple terms:** Socialists often lack a vivid story and clear language. Key Takeaway Craft a vivid, relatable story to convey ideas. Themes politics communication storytelling engagement Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - campaign speeches - grassroots organizing - media interviews - social media posts Key Concepts Narrative theory rhetoric political persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn abstract policies into personal stories? - What language makes ideas resonate with everyday people? A Different Perspective A strong argument can still fail without an engaging story. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biggest problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-problem/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Problem Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-dull-5151201/) [Socialists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialists/) [Socialists Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialists-biggest-5781169/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Underdog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underdog/) [Underdog Socialists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underdog-socialists-5781168/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [It's not the gentle part I have a problem with, it's the dull, stupid part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle/it-s-not-the-gentle-part-i-have-a-problem-with-it-s-the-dull-stupid/) [Gabrielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle/) > [What the underdog socialist has forgotten is that the story of the left ought to be a narrative of hope and progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/what-the-underdog-socialist-has-forgotten-is-that-the-story-of-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The world view of the underdog socialist is encapsulated in the notion that the establishment has mastered the game of reason, judgment and statistics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-world-view-of-the-underdog-socialist-is-encapsulated-in-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think the biggest problem we have is taking too long over things. Not in terms of getting it right, but sometimes we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/i-think-the-biggest-problem-we-have-is-taking-too-long-over-things/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [“One of the biggest problem is to notice everything,Secrets and lies kill relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/one-of-the-biggest-problem-is-to-notice-everything-secrets-and-lies/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life... it's money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-d-say-it-s-been-my-biggest-problem-all-my-life-it-s-money-it-takes/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [My biggest problem with everything going on is the lack of understanding and the lack of respect in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/my-biggest-problem-with-everything-going-on-is-the-lack-of/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [The biggest problem about looking at a problem is looking at it. When we finally find or face it, it becomes harmless and easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheid/the-biggest-problem-about-looking-at-a-problem-is-looking-at-it-when/) [Robert Scheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheid/) > [The biggest problem though out the history of man is the fact that racism is anything but an anomoly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hansen/the-biggest-problem-though-out-the-history-of-man-is-the-fact-that/) [Erik Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-hansen/) > [The biggest problem is my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-lovren/the-biggest-problem-is-my-back/) [Dejan Lovren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-lovren/) > [I do have some young coaches, but I don't really believe that is the biggest problem we have here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-do-have-some-young-coaches-but-i-don-t-really-believe-that-is-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [The biggest problem is the big man / one wants to understand his compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-biggest-problem-is-the-big-man-one-wants-to-understand-his/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Boredom is the biggest problem. The same position. Same day of the week. It becomes boring when you don't bring any added flowers home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/boredom-is-the-biggest-problem-the-same-position-same-day-of-the-week/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [The biggest problem in life isn't the problem itself, but how people act upon it ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-life-isn-t-the-problem-itself-but-how-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest problem in the world is that stupid people are full of confidence whereas smart people are full of doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-the-world-is-that-stupid-people-are-full-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/precisely-when-we-should-be-shouldering-the-historic-task-of/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/believing-in-the-good-of-humanity-is-a-revolutionary-act-it-means/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The bottom line is that wealth can be concentrated somewhere, but that doesn’t also mean that’s where it’s being created. This is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-bottom-line-is-that-wealth-can-be-concentrated-somewhere-but-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Not coincidentally, the countries with the shortest workweeks also have the largest number of volunteers and the most social capital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/not-coincidentally-the-countries-with-the-shortest-workweeks-also/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [It matters so much that from a very early age we encounter different kinds of different people, because that's what real life should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/it-matters-so-much-that-from-a-very-early-age-we-encounter-different/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) [Explore all 164 Rutger Bregman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More Biggest problem quotes > [The biggest problem in the world is that stupid people are full of confidence whereas smart people are full of doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-the-world-is-that-stupid-people-are-full-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest problem in life isn't the problem itself, but how people act upon it ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-life-isn-t-the-problem-itself-but-how-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Boredom is the biggest problem. The same position. Same day of the week. It becomes boring when you don't bring any added flowers home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/boredom-is-the-biggest-problem-the-same-position-same-day-of-the-week/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [The biggest problem is the big man / one wants to understand his compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-biggest-problem-is-the-big-man-one-wants-to-understand-his/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I do have some young coaches, but I don't really believe that is the biggest problem we have here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-do-have-some-young-coaches-but-i-don-t-really-believe-that-is-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [The biggest problem is my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-lovren/the-biggest-problem-is-my-back/) [Dejan Lovren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-lovren/) > [The biggest problem though out the history of man is the fact that racism is anything but an anomoly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hansen/the-biggest-problem-though-out-the-history-of-man-is-the-fact-that/) [Erik Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-hansen/) > [The biggest problem about looking at a problem is looking at it. When we finally find or face it, it becomes harmless and easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheid/the-biggest-problem-about-looking-at-a-problem-is-looking-at-it-when/) [Robert Scheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheid/) > [My biggest problem with everything going on is the lack of understanding and the lack of respect in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/my-biggest-problem-with-everything-going-on-is-the-lack-of/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life... it's money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-d-say-it-s-been-my-biggest-problem-all-my-life-it-s-money-it-takes/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“One of the biggest problem is to notice everything,Secrets and lies kill relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napz-cherub-pellazo/one-of-the-biggest-problem-is-to-notice-everything-secrets-and-lies/) [Napz Cherub Pellazo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napz-cherub-pellazo/) > [I think the biggest problem we have is taking too long over things. Not in terms of getting it right, but sometimes we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/i-think-the-biggest-problem-we-have-is-taking-too-long-over-things/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The President's biggest problem right now is he's gotta tell the truth. And we've seen this in New Jersey. I've told lots of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-president-s-biggest-problem-right-now-is-he-s-gotta-tell-the/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [“Your smile is my world's biggest problem because it helped me to overcome my last problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/your-smile-is-my-world-s-biggest-problem-because-it-helped-me-to/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [The biggest problem with every art is by the use of appearance to create a loftier reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-biggest-problem-with-every-art-is-by-the-use-of-appearance-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Browse all 136 Biggest problem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-problem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the underdog socialists' biggest problem isn't that they are wrong. They are not. Their biggest problem is that they're dull. Dull as a doorknob. 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