It is one of history's ironies that Communism, advertised as a classless society, tended to breed a privileged class of feudal proportions.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the contradiction of Communism, which promised equality but resulted in a new privileged class.
Henry A. Kissinger's quote critiques the inherent irony within the ideology of Communism, which was marketed as a system aiming for a classless society. Despite these ideals, in practice, it often led to the emergence of a powerful elite, reminiscent of feudal systems, thus contradicting its foundational promise of equality and classlessness.
In practice
During a political debate discussing the failures of Communism.
Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed. History is a tale of efforts that failed, or aspirations that werenβt realized. So, as a historian, one has to live with a sense of the inevitability of tragedy.
Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God.
It was a Greek tragedy. Nixon was fulfilling his own nature. Once it started it could not end otherwise.
The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
If peace is equated simply with the absence of war, it can become abject pacifism that turns the world over to the most ruthless.
What political leaders decide, intelligence services tend to seek to justify.
When will Labour learn that you cannot build Jerusalem in Brussels.
This country has been strip-mined by rich and powerful interests. If you dont like what they're doing, don't just sit there. Vote them out.
Our form of government can no longer be considered an experiment in politics. Crowned with success, it stands forth an example to the world and exhibits the proudest triumph of reason and philosophy.
Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery.
All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.
This is a country for, of, and by the people not for, of, and by the government. If we turn it over to them we cannot complain about what they're doing because this is a natural course of men and we have to hold their feet to the fire.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.