--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Communism and socialism is [sic]…" description: "\"Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg" --- # Communism and socialism is \[sic\] seductive. It promises us… ![“Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people…” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg) > “Communism and socialism is \[sic\] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff - watch out!” [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that appealing ideas about equality and provision can mask underlying economic and political dangers. **In simple terms:** Idealistic promises may hide harmful consequences. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate utopian claims. Themes politics economics social justice Mood skeptical cautious analytical Type cautionary political philosophical When to use this quote - voting decisions - policy debates - community organizing - media consumption Key Concepts tributism public policy human behavior Questions to Reflect On - What evidence contradicts the promise of equal provision? - How might such ideas affect individual responsibility? A Different Perspective Idealistic visions can overlook practical trade‑offs and unintended outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Affordable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affordable/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Communism and socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism-and-socialism/) [Communism Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism-socialism-1441959/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-everybody-396333/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Housing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/housing/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Medical care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical-care/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-talk/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Seductive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seductive/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) [Socialism Sic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism-sic-2459430/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-us/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [Communism and socialism, programs for intellectual control over society ... fascism, a program for the social control of intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/communism-and-socialism-programs-for-intellectual-control-over/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-is-no-difference-between-communism-and-socialism-except-in-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [If they were going to go to London or to the UK to find out how health care is, national health care doesn't work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-they-were-going-to-go-to-london-or-to-the-uk-to-find-out-how/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We may first observe that communism and socialism--which we shall hereafter group together and dub Statism--cannot live with Christianity nor with any religion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/we-may-first-observe-that-communism-and-socialism-which-we-shall/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [If men and women were equal, everybody would have the same values.Because at this point in time, many women feel compelled to care for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/if-men-and-women-were-equal-everybody-would-have-the-same-values/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [There is no good in living in a society where you are merely the equal of everybody else. The true pleasure of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-is-no-good-in-living-in-a-society-where-you-are-merely-the/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The dream was not to put one black family in the White House, the dream was to make everything equal in everybody's house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/the-dream-was-not-to-put-one-black-family-in-the-white-house-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Everybody's equal. Everybody should deserve the same opportunity, the same challenge, the same whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/everybody-s-equal-everybody-should-deserve-the-same-opportunity-the/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [“Everybody is equal. Everybody! That's the law." "They are? Only from on top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/everybody-is-equal-everybody-that-s-the-law-they-are-only-from-on-top/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Various people of both gender and race do whatever they can to be equal, though everybody's traits are variously different; if we wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/various-people-of-both-gender-and-race-do-whatever-they-can-to-be/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Power – any form of power – is acceptable only if it’s transparent and clean, if it’s exercised in a way that is equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianrico-carofiglio/power-any-form-of-power-is-acceptable-only-if-it-s-transparent-and/) [Gianrico Carofiglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianrico-carofiglio/) > [We understand the concept of equality, that we all want to be equal. But I think this is absolutely not true. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-kieslowski/we-understand-the-concept-of-equality-that-we-all-want-to-be-equal/) [Krzysztof Kieslowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-kieslowski/) > [Under communism (socialism), there is no incentive to supply people with anything they need or want, including safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-reisman/under-communism-socialism-there-is-no-incentive-to-supply-people-with/) [George Reisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-reisman/) > [If you contrast the productivity that comes from a networked or capitalist distribution of resources versus a centralized planning system, frequently referred to as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/if-you-contrast-the-productivity-that-comes-from-a-networked-or/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The greatest factors making for communism, socialism or anarchy among a free people are the excesses of capital. The talk of the agitator does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-greatest-factors-making-for-communism-socialism-or-anarchy-among/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## More by Walter E. Williams > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) [Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff - watch out!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter E. Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive-it-promises-us-that-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive-it-promises-us-that-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/walter-e-williams-2709_ability_communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive_1855022.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability…” — Walter E. Williams", "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": "Walter E. Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Communism and socialism is [sic] seductive....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive-it-promises-us-that-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/communism-and-socialism-is-sic-seductive-it-promises-us-that-people/#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 } } ] } ```