Alan Bennett Quotes

The strongest argument for socialism is that it sounds good. The strongest argument against socialism is that it doesn't work. But those who live by words will always have a soft spot in their hearts for socialism because it sounds so good.

Even capitalists must surely admit, that intellectually at least, socialism is a worthy opponent. It imparts intelligence even to its adversaries.

Liberals amuse me. I am a socialist.

Its [Communism's] unfortunate association with violence encourages a certain evil tendency in human beings.

In Democracy, man exploits man; in Communism, it's the other way round.

People call me a socialist sometimes. But, no, you gotta meet real socialists. You'll have a sense of what a socialist is.

There can be no immaculate conception of socialism.

I am opposed to socialism because it dreams ingenuously of good, truth, beauty, and equal rights.

I am a socialist. However, I have to add that what I understand by socialism is exactly the opposite of what many people, or most people, today mean by socialism.

Modern society is hypnotized by socialism. It is prevented by socialism from seeing the mortal danger it is in. And one of the greatest dangers of all is that you have lost all sense of danger, you cannot even see where it's coming from as it moves swiftly towards you.

I'm a socialist, and I'm not going to be ashamed to say it!

We approach closer and closer to socialism.

When I was in college, I was always saying I was a socialist.

We are not communists.

I think most people would love for us to be a socialist society.

By now even the word socialism has so many meanings and interpretations. The Russians call themselves socialists, the Swedes call themselves. And let's not forget that in Germany there was also a national socialism.

Communism is the corruption of a dream of justice.

I believe that Communism is necessary to the world, and I believe that the heroism of Russia has fired men's hopes in a way which was essential to the realization of Communism in the future. Regarded as a splendid attempt, without which ultimate success would have been very improbable, Bolshevism deserves the gratitude and admiration of all the progressive part of mankind.

Socialism is a monster which will die.

In the last few years we have learned to distinguish the means of Socialism from the ends.

Socialism: nothing more than the theory that the slave is always more virtuous than his master.

Socialism is an insurance policy bought by all the members of a national economy to shield them from risk. But the result is to shield them from knowledge of the real dangers and opportunities.

I still believe in what I believed in for 20 years as a Socialist in Parliament, and being a Socialist is not the same as being a utopian.

I find that socialism is often misunderstood by its least intelligent supporters and opponents to mean simply unrestrained indulgence of our natural propensity to heave bricks at respectable persons.

If I had to be anything," he told her, "I'd probably be a socialist, but I don't want to be anything.