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Collectivism Quotes

Where the individual ends and the collective begins.

These quotes trace collectivism as both a political charge and a genuine idea, from a warning about a decades-long drift toward socialism to a claim crediting Islamic monotheistic tradition with first framing the individual as a responsible moral agent. Together they show how the same term gets used to praise, warn, and analyze history.

Everybody in this society that has been lurching toward socialism and collectivism for 40 years has their hand out. And the propensity of Congress is to spend, spend, elect, elect. That hasn't changed, and it isn't going to change for...

Quotes by William E. Simon

Europe certainly needs a genuine conservative movement to combat the creeping bureaucratic collectivism that is stifling the human potential of the Continent.

Quotes by Robert Zubrin

There are strengths in Islamic tradition. Islam actually, as a monotheistic religion, which defined man as a responsible agent by itself, created the idea of the individual in the Middle East and saved it from the communitarianism, the collectivism of...

Quotes by Mustafa Akyol

More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.

Quotes by Mikhail Gorbachev

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The goals of Russia since 1917 have been to destroy capitalism, discredit democracy, and show that Communist collectivism was the greatest social and political system in the world.

Quotes by Malcolm Nance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is collectivism according to these quotes?
The quotes treat it as a political and social arrangement that prioritizes the group over the individual, discussed both as a warning about eroding personal responsibility and as a description of shared civic life. One even ties collectivism to expanded democracy and openness.
Do these quotes take one political side?
No, they represent a range of views, from a critical take on decades of drift toward socialism to a more neutral historical claim linking Islamic monotheistic tradition to the origin of individual moral responsibility. The collection reflects genuine debate rather than a single stance.
What historical events do these quotes reference?
One references the strategic goals Russia pursued after 1917, framing Communist collectivism as a rival social and political system meant to discredit capitalism and democracy. It's a reminder of how Cold War-era rhetoric still shapes this topic.
How does individualism factor into this discussion?
One quote credits Islamic monotheistic thought with originating the idea of the individual as a responsible agent in the Middle East, contrasting it with collectivist framing found elsewhere. Explore more on this tension in our Democracy collection.
Is collectivism only discussed in economic terms here?
Not entirely, one quote links collectivism to everyday openness and democratic participation rather than strictly economic policy. It shows the term stretching beyond pure economics into daily social life.

Whether discussing Soviet strategy since 1917 or the tension between personal liberty and shared responsibility, these lines sit at the center of long-running political debate. See related arguments in our Democracy and Change quote collections.