--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not in sympathy with Communism except…" description: "\"I'm not in sympathy with Communism except for populations which are in a state of peasantry, actually hungry and starving. The ideal state for me is so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/tennessee-williams-745_art_i-m-not-in-sympathy-with-communism-excep_542210.png" --- # I'm not in sympathy with Communism except for populations… ![“I'm not in sympathy with Communism except for populations which are in a state of peasantry, actually hungry and starving. The ideal state for me is some form of Socialism, which doesn't yet exist, as far as I know, which doesn't repress the arts, or any race. Consequently I'm not a political…” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/tennessee-williams-745_art_i-m-not-in-sympathy-with-communism-excep_542210.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/tennessee-williams-745_art_i-m-not-in-sympathy-with-communism-excep_542210.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/tennessee-williams-745_art_i-m-not-in-sympathy-with-communism-excep_542210.png) > “I'm not in sympathy with Communism except for populations which are in a state of peasantry, actually hungry and starving. The ideal state for me is some form of Socialism, which doesn't yet exist, as far as I know, which doesn't repress the arts, or any race. Consequently I'm not a political person ... except that I'm a revolutionary.” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers socialism over communism, rejecting oppression of arts or race, yet feels revolutionary. **In simple terms:** He likes socialism, not communism, and is revolutionary. Key Takeaway Support humane, non‑repressive social systems. Themes politics ideology art revolution human rights Mood reflective critical hopeful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy debates - artistic communities - activist meetings - academic discussions Key Concepts socialism humanism anti‑authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - What reforms can balance art freedom and equity? - Can revolution be peaceful? A Different Perspective Ideal socialism may be unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) ## Related quotes > [Three things are needed to educate the peasantry: schools, schools, and schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/three-things-are-needed-to-educate-the-peasantry-schools-schools-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To educate the peasantry, three things are needed: schools, schools and schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-educate-the-peasantry-three-things-are-needed-schools-schools-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Certainly in Catholic countries, the peasantry have always found ways to integrate pagan things in a way that makes it a little bit easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/certainly-in-catholic-countries-the-peasantry-have-always-found-ways/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [“for after all, the British peasantry are the best taught, best mannered, most self-respecting of any in Europe:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/for-after-all-the-british-peasantry-are-the-best-taught-best-mannered/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The dominant mood of contemporary American culture is the self-celebration of the peasantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/the-dominant-mood-of-contemporary-american-culture-is-the-self/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [It is not scholarship alone, but scholarship impregnated with religion, that tells on the great mass of society. We have no faith in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/it-is-not-scholarship-alone-but-scholarship-impregnated-with-religion/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Having consolidated its power, and taking the lead of the peasantry, the proletariat of the victorious country can and must build a socialist society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/having-consolidated-its-power-and-taking-the-lead-of-the-peasantry/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [“The greatest hurdle one must overcome along the journey from peasantry to nobility is a commitment to reading and reflection. For nothing distinguishes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicar-sayeedi/the-greatest-hurdle-one-must-overcome-along-the-journey-from/) Vicar Sayeedi > [“The history of middle-class and working-class revolutions has shown that the bulk of the peasants often constitute a brake on the revolution. Generally in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-history-of-middle-class-and-working-class-revolutions-has-shown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/americans-while-occasionally-willing-to-be-serfs-have-always-been/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [There can be no permanent disfranchised peasantry in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/there-can-be-no-permanent-disfranchised-peasantry-in-the-united-states/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Don't spend your time in drilling soldiers, who may turn out hirelings after all, but give to undrilled peasantry a country to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/don-t-spend-your-time-in-drilling-soldiers-who-may-turn-out-hirelings/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Many people in this room have an Etsy store where they create unique, unreplicable artifacts or useful items to be sold on a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/many-people-in-this-room-have-an-etsy-store-where-they-create-unique/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Folks out in the country couldn't afford to pay for anybody else to make music. They had to make their own. So the peasantry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/folks-out-in-the-country-couldn-t-afford-to-pay-for-anybody-else-to/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [The serious problem is the education of the peasantry. The peasant economy is scattered, and the socialization of agriculture, judging by the Soviet Union's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-serious-problem-is-the-education-of-the-peasantry-the-peasant/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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