You've got to keep fighting; you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.
Elia KazanRead
To be a member of the Communist Party is to have a taste of the police state. It is a diluted taste but it is bitter and unforgettable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the harsh realities and oppressive nature of being part of a totalitarian regime.
Elia Kazan's quote expresses the notion that affiliation with the Communist Party exposes individuals to the authoritarian and controlling atmosphere reminiscent of a police state, even if in a diluted form. This experience leaves a lasting impression, highlighting the bitterness of such oppression and the inescapable reality of living under strict governmental control.
Themes
CommunismOppressionAuthoritarianismPolice StatePolitics
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political discussion to illustrate the dangers of totalitarian regimes.
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I've come to believe that everything worth achieving is beyond one's capacity - or seems so at first. The thing is to persist, not back off, fight your fight, pay your dues, and carry on. Effort is all; continue and you may get there despite everything.
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A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.
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I've lost many of my best friends... I'm going to satisfy myself now, not the critics, not even my friends.
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I would rather do what I did than crawl in front of a ritualistic Left and lie the way those other comrades did betray my own soul.
Elia KazanRead
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