--- title: "Best Antonio Gramsci Quotes" description: "Antonio Francesco Gramsci was an Italian Marxist philosopher, journalist and politician. He was a founding member and one-time leader of the Italian Com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b004/author-antonio-gramsci-14294.jpg" --- ![Portrait of Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b004/author-antonio-gramsci-14294.jpg) # Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) Philosopher Kingdom of Italy **49** quotes in **318** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet Antonio Gramsci was a philosopher from the Kingdom of Italy, best known for *Lettere dal carcere*. ## Quick Facts About Antonio Gramsci Born January 22, 1891 Died April 27, 1937 Nationality Kingdom of Italy Profession Philosopher Notable works Lettere dal carcere Known for Prison Notebooks Spouse Julia Schucht ## About Antonio Gramsci Antonio Francesco Gramsci was an Italian Marxist philosopher, journalist and politician. He was a founding member and one-time leader of the Italian Communist Party. A vocal critic of Benito Mussolini and fascism, he was imprisoned in 1926, and remained in prison until shortly before his death in 1937. ## Awards & Honors Viareggio Prize ## Quotes by Antonio Gramsci · Page 2 > [Before puberty the child's personality has not yet formed and it is easier to guide its life and make it acquire specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-has-not-yet-formed-and-it-is/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/antonio-gramsci-12150_acquire_before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-h_923649.jpg) > [What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg) > [The starting-point of critical elaboration is the consciousness of what one really is, and is 'knowing thyself'as a product of the historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-starting-point-of-critical-elaboration-is-the-consciousness-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/antonio-gramsci-12150_consciousness_the-starting-point-of-critical-elaborati_2647503.jpg) > [The philosophy of praxis does not aim at the peaceful resolution of existing contradictions in history and society, but is the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at-the-peaceful-resolution-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/antonio-gramsci-12150_aim_the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at_2392955.jpg) > [From the moment when a subordinate class becomes really independent and dominant, calling into being a new type of State, the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class-becomes-really-independent/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/antonio-gramsci-12150_arise_from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class_473694.jpg) > [“The crisis creates situations which are dangerous in the short run, since the various strata of the population are not all capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are-dangerous-in-the-short-run/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Class struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-struggle/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/antonio-gramsci-12150_class-struggle_the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are_1840807.jpg) > [How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is-really-possible-to-forge/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Collectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivity/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/antonio-gramsci-12150_collectivity_how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is_118376.jpg) > [I would like you to understand completely, also emotionally, that I'm a political detainee and will be a political prisoner, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-would-like-you-to-understand-completely-also-emotionally-that-i-m-a/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec8/antonio-gramsci-12150_ashamed_i-would-like-you-to-understand-completel_2209867.jpg) > [In the life of children there are two very clear-cut phases, before and after puberty. Before puberty the child's personality has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-very-clear-cut-phases-before/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/antonio-gramsci-12150_child_in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-ve_2974359.jpg) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/#itemlist", "name": "Antonio Gramsci Quotes", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before puberty the child's personality has not yet formed and it is easier to guide its life and make it acquire specific habits of order, discipline, and work...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-has-not-yet-formed-and-it-is/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/antonio-gramsci-12150_acquire_before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-h_923649.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/antonio-gramsci-12150_acquire_before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-h_923649.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/antonio-gramsci-12150_acquire_before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-h_923649.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before puberty the child's personality has not yet formed and it is easier to guide its life and make it…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate their responsibility and let things be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The starting-point of critical elaboration is the consciousness of what one really is, and is 'knowing thyself'as a product of the historical processes to date, which has deposited in you an infinity of traces, without leaving an inventory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-starting-point-of-critical-elaboration-is-the-consciousness-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/antonio-gramsci-12150_consciousness_the-starting-point-of-critical-elaborati_2647503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/antonio-gramsci-12150_consciousness_the-starting-point-of-critical-elaborati_2647503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/antonio-gramsci-12150_consciousness_the-starting-point-of-critical-elaborati_2647503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The starting-point of critical elaboration is the consciousness of what one really is, and is 'knowing…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The philosophy of praxis does not aim at the peaceful resolution of existing contradictions in history and society, but is the very theory of these contradictions. It is not the instrument of government of the dominant groups in order to gain the consent and exercise hegemony over the subaltern classes. It is the expression of subaltern classes who want to educate themselves in the art of government and who have an interest in knowing all truths, even the unpleasant ones, and in avoiding the impossible deceptions of the upper class, and even more their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at-the-peaceful-resolution-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/antonio-gramsci-12150_aim_the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at_2392955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/antonio-gramsci-12150_aim_the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at_2392955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/antonio-gramsci-12150_aim_the-philosophy-of-praxis-does-not-aim-at_2392955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The philosophy of praxis does not aim at the peaceful resolution of existing contradictions in history and…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From the moment when a subordinate class becomes really independent and dominant, calling into being a new type of State, the need arises concretely, of building a new intellectual and moral order, i.e. a new type of society, and hence the need to elaborate the most universal concepts, the most refined and decisive ideological weapons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class-becomes-really-independent/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/antonio-gramsci-12150_arise_from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class_473694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/antonio-gramsci-12150_arise_from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class_473694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/antonio-gramsci-12150_arise_from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class_473694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From the moment when a subordinate class becomes really independent and dominant, calling into being a new…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The crisis creates situations which are dangerous in the short run, since the various strata of the population are not all capable of orienting themselves equally swiftly, or of reorganizing with the same rhythm. The traditional ruling class, which has numerous trained cadres, changes men and programmes and, with greater speed than is achieved by the subordinate classes, reabsorbs the control that was slipping from its grasp. Perhaps it may make sacrifices, and expose itself to an uncertain future by demagogic promises; but it retains power, reinforces it for the time being, and uses it to crush its adversary and disperse his leading cadres, who cannot be be very numerous or highly trained.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are-dangerous-in-the-short-run/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/antonio-gramsci-12150_class-struggle_the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are_1840807.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/antonio-gramsci-12150_class-struggle_the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are_1840807.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/antonio-gramsci-12150_class-struggle_the-crisis-creates-situations-which-are_1840807.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The crisis creates situations which are dangerous in the short run, since the various strata of the…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has never had strong feelings for anyone, not even one's own parents: if it is possible to have a collectivity when one has not been deeply loved oneself by individual human creatures. Hasn't this had some effect on my life as a militant--has it not tended to make me sterile and reduce my quality as a revolutionary by making everything a matter of pure intellect, of pure mathematical calculation?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is-really-possible-to-forge/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/antonio-gramsci-12150_collectivity_how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is_118376.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/antonio-gramsci-12150_collectivity_how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is_118376.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/antonio-gramsci-12150_collectivity_how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is_118376.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would like you to understand completely, also emotionally, that I'm a political detainee and will be a political prisoner, that I have nothing now or in the future to be ashamed of in this situation. That, at bottom, I myself have in a certain sense asked for this detention and this sentence, because I've always refused to change my opinion, for which I would be willing to give my life and not just remain in prison. That therefore I can only be tranquil and content with myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-would-like-you-to-understand-completely-also-emotionally-that-i-m-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec8/antonio-gramsci-12150_ashamed_i-would-like-you-to-understand-completel_2209867.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec8/antonio-gramsci-12150_ashamed_i-would-like-you-to-understand-completel_2209867.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec8/antonio-gramsci-12150_ashamed_i-would-like-you-to-understand-completel_2209867.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would like you to understand completely, also emotionally, that I'm a political detainee and will be a…” — Antonio Gramsci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the life of children there are two very clear-cut phases, before and after puberty. Before puberty the child's personality has not yet formed and it is easier to guide its life and make it acquire specific habits of order, discipline, and work: after puberty the personality develops impetuously and all extraneous intervention becomes odious, tyrannical, insufferable. Now it so happens that parents feel the responsibility towards their children precisely during this second period, when it is too late: then of course the stick and violence enter the scene and yield very few results indeed. Why not instead take an interest in the child during the first period?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-very-clear-cut-phases-before/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/antonio-gramsci-12150_child_in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-ve_2974359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/antonio-gramsci-12150_child_in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-ve_2974359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/antonio-gramsci-12150_child_in-the-life-of-children-there-are-two-ve_2974359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the life of children there are two very clear-cut phases, before and after puberty. 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