---
title: "Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs. — Joseph Stalin Quote #22 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs. — a quote by Joseph Stalin."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs.

[Joseph Stalin](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin)\#22

[Stalin](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/stalin/)[Power](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/power/)[Ethics](https://quotesby.net/topics/ethics/)[Gratitude](https://quotesby.net/topics/gratitude/)[Shame](https://quotesby.net/topics/shame/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Gratitude is depicted as a humiliating weakness reserved for animals.In plain termsThankfulness is seen as weak and degrading.What can you take from it?Expecting or feeling gratitude is a sign of weakness.

### Where it applies

- power dynamics
- social expectations
- personal philosophy

### Putting it to work

- critiquing social norms
- analyzing power relations

### Questions to consider

- Is gratitude a strength or weakness?
- Why do we expect thanks?

### Another view

It dismisses a common human virtue as animalistic.

## More from Joseph Stalin

1. > Those who cast the Votes, they decide nothing. Those who count the votes, they decide everything.

[Permalink to quote \#21](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/21/ "Permalink to quote 21")
2. > The Pope! How many divisions has he got?

[Permalink to quote \#23](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/23/ "Permalink to quote 23")
3. > This war is not as in the past; whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can r…

[Permalink to quote \#20](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/20/ "Permalink to quote 20")

## Related quotes

1. > \[Alan Cranston\] understood power not as a reflection of status but as a tool with a purpose.' - Sen. Joseph Biden December 31, 2000 on Meet the Press

[Alan Cranston](https://quotesby.net/Alan-Cranston)[Alan Cranston quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Alan-Cranston/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
2. > If a test of civilization be sought, none can be so sure as the condition of that half of society over which the other half has power.

[Harriet Martineau](https://quotesby.net/Harriet-Martineau)[Harriet Martineau quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Harriet-Martineau/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME - - GREAT RESPONSIBILITY!

[Stan Lee](https://quotesby.net/Stan-Lee)[Stan Lee quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Stan-Lee/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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