--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Russian revolution did not occur…" description: "\"The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation after Marx's death. He was not involved with it, or with what came after it. His works do not d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/allen-w-wood-2748_capitalist_the-russian-revolution-did-not-occur-unt_2996777.jpg" --- # The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation… ![“The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation after Marx's death. He was not involved with it, or with what came after it. His works do not describe post-capitalist society, and a fortiori they do not recommend any part of what the Soviet Union did.” quote by Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/allen-w-wood-2748_capitalist_the-russian-revolution-did-not-occur-unt_2996777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/allen-w-wood-2748_capitalist_the-russian-revolution-did-not-occur-unt_2996777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/allen-w-wood-2748_capitalist_the-russian-revolution-did-not-occur-unt_2996777.jpg) > “The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation after Marx's death. He was not involved with it, or with what came after it. His works do not describe post-capitalist society, and a fortiori they do not recommend any part of what the Soviet Union did.” [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Marx’s writings did not predict or endorse the Soviet Union; his ideas were later interpreted in various ways. **In simple terms:** Marx didn’t foresee or support the USSR. Key Takeaway Separate Marx’s theory from later political implementations. Themes political theory history interpretation Mood analytical critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - academic curricula - political debates - policy analysis - public discourse Key Concepts Marxism historical materialism Questions to Reflect On - How should we evaluate thinkers’ ideas against later outcomes? - What responsibilities do scholars have in interpreting past theories? A Different Perspective Historical context can be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Russian revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russian-revolution/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [If the feudal knight was the clearest embodiment of society in the early Middle Ages, and the "bourgeois" under Capitalism, the educated person will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/if-the-feudal-knight-was-the-clearest-embodiment-of-society-in-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [That knowledge has become the resource, rather than a resource, is what makes our society "post-capitalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/that-knowledge-has-become-the-resource-rather-than-a-resource-is-what/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The Frankenstein of Communism is the product of the Jewish mind, and was turned loose upon the world by the son of a Rabbi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goff/the-frankenstein-of-communism-is-the-product-of-the-jewish-mind-and/) Kenneth Goff > [In an ironic sense, Karl Marx was right. We are witnessing today a great revolutionary crisis, a crisis where the demands of the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/in-an-ironic-sense-karl-marx-was-right-we-are-witnessing-today-a/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It has taken me a long time to realize where I most disagree with Marx. His assessment of capitalism is far too favorable. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-has-taken-me-a-long-time-to-realize-where-i-most-disagree-with/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Marx is thought of as an implacable foe of capitalism. But go back and read the first section of the Communist Manifesto. Notice how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/marx-is-thought-of-as-an-implacable-foe-of-capitalism-but-go-back-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [There is a lot in Adam Smith that reflects the insights of Rousseau and anticipates those of Marx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/there-is-a-lot-in-adam-smith-that-reflects-the-insights-of-rousseau/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Marx's writings still have something to teach us about capitalism. They have little or nothing to teach us about any alternatives to it. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/marx-s-writings-still-have-something-to-teach-us-about-capitalism/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [What Smith and Marx have in common is that they were both philosophers of great vision and perceptiveness, deep humanity, and a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/what-smith-and-marx-have-in-common-is-that-they-were-both/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Marx's own illusion was to think that the working class movement, which he devoted his life to creating and strengthening, would both be socially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/marx-s-own-illusion-was-to-think-that-the-working-class-movement/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Capitalism has proven to be a far more terrible system than Marx could ever bring himself to imagine. Those who are so deluded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/capitalism-has-proven-to-be-a-far-more-terrible-system-than-marx/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We totally misunderstand both his aims and his contribution if we try to read into Marx some anticipation of either the modest successes or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-totally-misunderstand-both-his-aims-and-his-contribution-if-we-try/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Fichte is a necessary step to both Hegel and Marx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/fichte-is-a-necessary-step-to-both-hegel-and-marx/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Clearly no working class movement ever came about that was able to do what Marx was hoping for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/clearly-no-working-class-movement-ever-came-about-that-was-able-to-do/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Those who see Smith as a defender of capitalism - as it existed in Marx's day, or as it exists today - show above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/those-who-see-smith-as-a-defender-of-capitalism-as-it-existed-in-marx/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## More by Allen W. Wood > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [No theory about our bodies as mere objects of observation and calculation (as distinct from partners in communicative interaction, assumed to be free) can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/no-theory-about-our-bodies-as-mere-objects-of-observation-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kantian ethical theory distinguishes three levels: First, that of a fundamental principle (the categorical imperative, formulated in three main ways in Kant's Groundwork); second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kantian-ethical-theory-distinguishes-three-levels-first-that-of-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Some empirical feelings, such as sympathy, are indispensable parts of certain moral virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/some-empirical-feelings-such-as-sympathy-are-indispensable-parts-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We commit not only theoretical error but also moral wrong in objectifying ourselves or other rational beings, ignoring their capacities for free action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-commit-not-only-theoretical-error-but-also-moral-wrong-in/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant certainly was sympathetic with the metaphysical tradition of rational theology that he criticized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-certainly-was-sympathetic-with-the-metaphysical-tradition-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [That Hegel's theory is derivative from Fichte's does not prevent it from being strikingly original and of independent value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/that-hegel-s-theory-is-derivative-from-fichte-s-does-not-prevent-it/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is sad to witness the persistence in our society of the racism and xenophobia that seems to be a permanent part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-sad-to-witness-the-persistence-in-our-society-of-the-racism-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is rational to choose the right means to your ends to develop very elegant abstract formal theories of rational choice, and then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-rational-to-choose-the-right-means-to-your-ends-to-develop-very/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We can never prove that we are free or integrate our freedom in any way into our objective conception of the causal order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-can-never-prove-that-we-are-free-or-integrate-our-freedom-in-any/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant regards the universalizability test for maxims as focused on a very special sort of situation: one where the agent is tempted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-regards-the-universalizability-test-for-maxims-as-focused-on-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [My own view is that Kant's conception of the duality of the good (morality and happiness, the good of our person and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/my-own-view-is-that-kant-s-conception-of-the-duality-of-the-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is actually a nice question how far Descartes himself endorses the monological and metaphysically dualistic theory of mind associated with his name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-actually-a-nice-question-how-far-descartes-himself-endorses-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [In fact people do not know enough about themselves and what is good for them to form a sufficiently definite conception of the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/in-fact-people-do-not-know-enough-about-themselves-and-what-is-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Empiricist philosophy always tends to be anti-philosophy (and is often proud of it).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/empiricist-philosophy-always-tends-to-be-anti-philosophy-and-is-often/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) [Explore all 151 Allen W. Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## More Capitalist quotes > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [As the variable capital always stays in the hands of the capitalist in some form or other, it cannot be claimed in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-the-variable-capital-always-stays-in-the-hands-of-the-capitalist/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [When I was young, I worked for a capitalist twelve hours a day and I was always tired. Now I work for myself twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/when-i-was-young-i-worked-for-a-capitalist-twelve-hours-a-day-and-i/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [“Capitalist cycle of profit. The rancher sells a cow for profit. The butcher sells cuts for profit. The restaurant sells meals for profit. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/capitalist-cycle-of-profit-the-rancher-sells-a-cow-for-profit-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [For me, it is clear that we are currently in a period of structural crisis of capitalism going back to the 1970s, but deepening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bellamy-foster/for-me-it-is-clear-that-we-are-currently-in-a-period-of-structural/) [John Bellamy Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bellamy-foster/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [Capitalism has created a situation called scarcity. And that scarcity is not natural, it's socially induced. Along with that sense of scarcity, or feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/capitalism-has-created-a-situation-called-scarcity-and-that-scarcity/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [... what we should be looking for is fresh ideas of how we make moral decisions about our dealings with one another, economic, social,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-mccaughey/what-we-should-be-looking-for-is-fresh-ideas-of-how-we-make-moral/) Davis McCaughey > [When you come from a family of communists and you go through your teenage rebellion, what's the best way of rebelling from a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/when-you-come-from-a-family-of-communists-and-you-go-through-your/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [The Enron scandal calls into question the integrity of the entire capitalist system, which previously we assumed was based on honest, straightforward greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-achenbach/the-enron-scandal-calls-into-question-the-integrity-of-the-entire/) [Joel Achenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-achenbach/) > [Human beings were behaving as human beings and not as cogs in the capitalist machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/human-beings-were-behaving-as-human-beings-and-not-as-cogs-in-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Beautiful women must think about their beauty as capitalists think about their investments or politicians about their majorities; it is all they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/beautiful-women-must-think-about-their-beauty-as-capitalists-think/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) Browse all 968 Capitalist quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Russian revolution did not occur until a generation after Marx's death. 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