89+ Vladimir Lenin Quotes [Leninism]

Vladimir Lenin Quotes

Here are some quotes attributed to Vladimir Lenin:

1. “The goal of socialism is communism.”
2. “Politics begin where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions.”
3. “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.”
4. “Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle.”
5. “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”
6. “Give us the child for eight years and it will be a Bolshevik forever.”
7. “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.”
8. “Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: freedom for the slave owners.”
9. “The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.”
10. “Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.”
11. “Sometimes—history needs a push.”
12. “It is impossible to predict the time and progress of revolution. It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.”
13. “The history of all countries shows that the working class exclusively by its own effort is able to develop only trade union consciousness.”
14. “The only real power comes out of a long rifle.”
15. “The goal of socialism is not equality but freedom.”
16. “A revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, not every revolutionary situation leads to revolution.”
17. “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best.”
18. “A lie told often enough becomes truth.”
19. “We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us.”
20. “It is true that liberty is precious. So precious that it must be carefully rationed.”
21. “The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.”
22. “While the State exists, there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State.”
23. “Democracy is indispensable to socialism.”
24. “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.”
25. “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country.”
26. “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”
27. “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.”
28. “The bourgeoisie is many times stronger than we. To give it the weapon of freedom of the press is to ease the enemy’s cause, to help the class enemy.”
29. “The only way to predict the future is to create it.”
30. “The working class alone is a reliable force against imperialism.”
31. “No amount of political freedom will satisfy the hungry masses.”
32. “A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”
33. “To rely upon conviction, devotion, and other excellent spiritual qualities; that is not to be taken seriously in politics.”
34. “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.”
35. “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.”
36. “The history of all previous societies has been the history of class struggles.”
37. “Socialized medicine is the keystone to the arch of the socialist state.”
38. “The most important thing when ill is to never lose heart.”
39. “The transition from capitalism to socialism represents a leap from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom.”
40. “Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism.”
41. “The proletariat needs state power, a centralized organization of force, an organization of violence, both to crush the resistance of the exploiters and to lead the enormous mass of the population.”
42. “Capitalists are no more capable of self-sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself up by his own bootstraps.”
43. “The workers have nothing to lose but their chains.”
44. “We do not spare our lives, comrades. And we shall strike down the bourgeoisie ruthlessly and powerfully.”
45. “The only real power comes out of a long rifle.”
46. “Fascism is capitalism in decay.”
47. “The bourgeoisie is interested in the truth only to the extent that it helps them to rule.”
48. “One man with a gun can control 100 without one.”
49. “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience.”
50. “A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”
51. “Our task is to make politics our everyday work, to apply it in the broadest mass struggle against the enemies of the working class.”
52. “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care, shall be in state institutions.”
53. “We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning from them respectfully and conscientiously.”
54. “We need the real, nation-wide terror which reinvigorates the country and through which the Great French Revolution achieved glory.”
55. “Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.”
56. “One step forward, two steps back.”
57. “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.”
58. “While the State exists, there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State.”
59. “There is only one way to shorten and ease the convulsions of the old society and the bloody birth pangs of the new — revolutionary terror.”
60. “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable.”
61. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
62. “We have shown that our Party was the only Party which led and guided the working class forward, the only Party which united around itself all class-conscious workers.”
63. “The goal of socialism is not equality but freedom.”
64. “Give me an army of workers, and I will move the world.”
65. “To rely upon conviction, devotion, and other excellent spiritual qualities; that is not to be taken seriously in politics.”
66. “A revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, not every revolutionary situation leads to revolution.”
67. “He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”
68. “Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.”

Please note that while these quotes are attributed to Vladimir Lenin, some of them may be paraphrased or interpreted differently in different translations or contexts.

Famous Vladimir Lenin Quotes

Here are some famous quotes attributed to Vladimir Lenin:

1. “The goal of socialism is communism.”
2. “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”
3. “Politics begin where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions, that is where serious politics begin.”
4. “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.”
5. “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.”
6. “Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement.”
7. “While the State exists, there can be no freedom; when there is freedom, there will be no State.”
8. “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.”
9. “Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: freedom for the slave-owners.”
10. “Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle.”

Please note that these quotes are attributed to Vladimir Lenin, but it’s always important to verify the accuracy and context of quotes from historical figures.

Vladimir Lenin Quotes on Capitalism, Patriotism, the Press, and Propaganda

Here are some quotes attributed to Vladimir Lenin on the topics of capitalism, patriotism, the press, and propaganda:

Capitalism:

1. “Capitalists are no more capable of self-sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself up by his own bootstraps.”
2. “Capitalists are our best allies because they are the best schoolmasters for the working class.”
3. “Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Socialism is the reverse.”
4. “The goal of socialism is communism.”

Patriotism:

1. “The working class has no country.”
2. “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.”
3. “The only internationalist is he who stands firmly by his own country in its revolutionary struggle.”

The Press:

1. “A newspaper is not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, it is also a collective organizer.”
2. “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.”
3. “He who says the press says the party, and he who says the party says the state.”

Propaganda:

1. “Our task is to utilize every manifestation of discontent, and to collect and utilize every grain of rudimentary protest.”
2. “The press should be a collective propagandist, a collective agitator, and a collective organizer of the masses.”
3. “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”

Please note that while these quotes are commonly attributed to Lenin, it’s important to verify their authenticity and consider the historical context in which they were made.

How Did Vladimir Lenin Influence Xi Jinping, Fidel Castro, the Soviet Union Leaders (e.g., Stalin) and Other Leaders? (And How Did Karl Marx Influence Lenin?)

Vladimir Lenin’s ideas and actions had a significant impact on various individuals and political leaders throughout history.

Here’s a brief overview of how Lenin influenced some notable figures and entities:

• Karl Marx: Vladimir Lenin considered himself a follower of Karl Marx and his interpretation of Marxism. Lenin expanded upon Marx’s ideas, particularly in relation to the role of the revolutionary party, the dictatorship of the proletariat, and the concept of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism.
• Soviet Union Leaders: Lenin’s leadership and ideology shaped the Soviet Union and its subsequent leaders. He established the Bolshevik Party and led the October Revolution in 1917, which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. Lenin’s policies laid the foundation for the Soviet state, including the implementation of a planned economy, the nationalization of industry, and the creation of the Soviet political system.
• Joseph Stalin: After Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union. Stalin built upon Lenin’s ideas but also deviated from them. He emphasized the concept of “socialism in one country” and implemented policies that consolidated his personal power, leading to a more centralized and authoritarian regime.
• Xi Jinping: Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2012 and the President of China since 2013, has shown influence from Lenin’s ideas in his governance. Xi Jinping has emphasized the need for a strong centralized party and has called for the “Sinicization” of Marxism, drawing upon Leninist principles of party discipline and state control.
• Fidel Castro: Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader who led the Cuban Revolution and established a socialist state in Cuba, was inspired by Lenin’s ideas and considered himself a Marxist-Leninist. Castro adopted Leninist strategies, such as guerrilla warfare, to achieve his revolutionary goals.
• Other Leaders and Movements: Lenin’s ideas and tactics have influenced numerous leaders and movements around the world. Various communist parties and leftist movements have drawn inspiration from Leninist principles, particularly in terms of revolutionary strategy, party organization, and the establishment of socialist states.

It’s important to note that while Lenin’s ideas have influenced these figures and entities, each leader and movement interpreted and adapted his ideas to suit their specific contexts and objectives.

Conclusion – Vladimir Lenin Quotes

Vladimir Lenin, through his ideas and actions, left a lasting impact on political thought and the course of history.

As a follower of Karl Marx, Lenin expanded upon Marxist theory and developed his own ideology known as Leninism.

His contributions to revolutionary theory, party organization, and the establishment of a socialist state have influenced numerous leaders and movements around the world.

Lenin’s emphasis on the role of a disciplined vanguard party, the necessity of a violent revolution to overthrow capitalism, and the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat shaped the development of socialist states, including the Soviet Union.

His analysis of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism and his calls for anti-imperialism and internationalism resonated with those seeking liberation from colonial powers.

Leaders such as Joseph Stalin, Xi Jinping, and Fidel Castro drew inspiration from Lenin’s ideas, although each interpreted and adapted them to suit their own contexts and objectives.

Lenin’s impact extends beyond political leaders, as his writings and theories continue to be studied and debated by scholars and activists worldwide.

While Leninism has been subject to various interpretations and criticisms, it remains a significant force in shaping political ideologies and movements.

The legacy of Vladimir Lenin and his contributions to Marxist theory and revolutionary practice continue to influence the course of history, sparking discussions on the nature of socialism, the role of the state, and the struggle for social justice.

Related

• Karl Marx Quotes
• Chairman Xi Jinping Quotes
• Fidel Castro Quotes