--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a…" description: "\"I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian revolutionist. I do not belong to the regular army of the plutocracy, but to the irregular army of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/eugene-v-debs-7814_army_i-am-not-a-capitalist-soldier-i-am-a-pro_2615253.jpg" --- # I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian… ![“I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian revolutionist. I do not belong to the regular army of the plutocracy, but to the irregular army of the people. I refuse to obey any command to fight from the ruling class, but I will not wait to be commanded to fight for the working class. I am…” quote by Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/eugene-v-debs-7814_army_i-am-not-a-capitalist-soldier-i-am-a-pro_2615253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/eugene-v-debs-7814_army_i-am-not-a-capitalist-soldier-i-am-a-pro_2615253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67c/eugene-v-debs-7814_army_i-am-not-a-capitalist-soldier-i-am-a-pro_2615253.jpg) > “I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian revolutionist. I do not belong to the regular army of the plutocracy, but to the irregular army of the people. I refuse to obey any command to fight from the ruling class, but I will not wait to be commanded to fight for the working class. I am opposed to every war but one; I am for that war with heart and soul, and that is the world-wide war of social revolution. In that war I am prepared to fight in any way the ruling class may make necessary, even to the barricades.” [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He declares loyalty to the working class, rejecting capitalist armies and pledging to fight for social revolution in any form required by the people. **In simple terms:** He refuses to serve the rich, wants to fight for workers. Key Takeaway Join the struggle for workers’ rights. Themes revolution class struggle anti‑war solidarity Mood defiant determined radical Type political activist When to use this quote - union organizing - political protests - community defense - direct action Key Concepts Marxism political activism militant resistance Questions to Reflect On - What personal sacrifices are needed for revolutionary commitment? - How can one balance anti‑war stance with support for a specific war? A Different Perspective May limit effectiveness when faced with overwhelming state power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Barricades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barricades/) [Capitalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalist/) [Capitalist Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalist-soldier-2061958/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-soul/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Opposed War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposed-war-412663/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plutocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plutocracy/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Proletarian Revolutionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proletarian-revolutionist-2061961/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutionist Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionist-belong-2061960/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-revolution/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Proletarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-proletarian-2061959/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-are-patriots-who-opposed-the-war-in-iraq-and-there-are-patriots/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One very difficult decision was deciding to vote against the appropriations bill for the war. I had consistently said that I wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-very-difficult-decision-was-deciding-to-vote-against-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you look back to the anti-intervention movements, what were they? Let's take the Vietnam War - the biggest crime since the Second World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-look-back-to-the-anti-intervention-movements-what-were-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I opposed the war in Iraq because I did not believe it was in our national security interest, and I still don't. What we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-springer/i-opposed-the-war-in-iraq-because-i-did-not-believe-it-was-in-our/) [Jerry Springer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-springer/) > [ By that time \[1966\], we did begin to get some protests \[against Vietnam War\]. But not from liberal intellectuals; they never opposed the war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/by-that-time-1966-we-did-begin-to-get-some-protests-against-vietnam/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I've traveled with Jack Murtha to Iraq three times to learn more about the region, talk with our diplomats and military leaders, and meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-larson/i-ve-traveled-with-jack-murtha-to-iraq-three-times-to-learn-more/) [John B. Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-larson/) > [I was so opposed to the war in Vietnam that I initially refused President Nixon's urgings for me to go there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-was-so-opposed-to-the-war-in-vietnam-that-i-initially-refused/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [ Barak Obama initially opposed \[war in Libia\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/barak-obama-initially-opposed-war-in-libia/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [“Influential Americans such as Charles Lindbergh opposed war with the Nazis under the slogan “America First.” It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/influential-americans-such-as-charles-lindbergh-opposed-war-with-the/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [“So, if people don't want a war - are opposed to a war - how do you get away with it? You change public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibel-hodge/so-if-people-don-t-want-a-war-are-opposed-to-a-war-how-do-you-get/) [Sibel Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibel-hodge/) > [When I was arrested opposing the war in Vietnam in 1965, as I said about 20 or 30% of people were opposed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/when-i-was-arrested-opposing-the-war-in-vietnam-in-1965-as-i-said/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [My explanation remains the same: It was an attempt to make the point that anyone who opposed the war can achieve their objective by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-moran/my-explanation-remains-the-same-it-was-an-attempt-to-make-the-point/) [James P. Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-moran/) > [Every book that comes out, every article that comes out, talks about how - while it may have been a "mistake" or an "unwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/every-book-that-comes-out-every-article-that-comes-out-talks-about/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Most of us who were opposed to the war, especially in the early '60's - the war we were opposed to was the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/most-of-us-who-were-opposed-to-the-war-especially-in-the-early-60-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Eugene V. Debs > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet I am Bolshevik, and proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/from-the-crown-of-my-head-to-the-soles-of-my-feet-i-am-bolshevik-and/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“I left that church with rich and royal hatred of the priest as a person, and a loathing for the church as an institution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-left-that-church-with-rich-and-royal-hatred-of-the-priest-as-a/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-class-which-has-the-power-to-rob-upon-a-large-scale-has-also-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Wherever capitalism appears, in pursuit of its mission of exploitation, there will Socialism, fertilized by misery, watered by tears, and vitalized by agitation be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/wherever-capitalism-appears-in-pursuit-of-its-mission-of-exploitation/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/intelligent-discontent-is-the-mainspring-of-civilization/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The Republican and Democratic parties, or, to be more exact, the Republican-Democratic party, represent the capitalist class in the class struggle. They are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-republican-and-democratic-parties-or-to-be-more-exact-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [I would rather a thousand times be a free soul in jail than to be a sycophant and coward in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-would-rather-a-thousand-times-be-a-free-soul-in-jail-than-to-be-a/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The American people can have anything they want; the trouble is, they don't know what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-american-people-can-have-anything-they-want-the-trouble-is-they/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Capitalism needs and must have the prison to protect itself from the criminals it has created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/capitalism-needs-and-must-have-the-prison-to-protect-itself-from-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“{Letter from Debbs to Eva Ingersoll, husband of Robert Ingersoll , just after the news of Robert's death} We were inexpressibly shocked to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/letter-from-debbs-to-eva-ingersoll-husband-of-robert-ingersoll-just/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity. We have been cursed with the reign of gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-issue-is-socialism-versus-capitalism-i-am-for-socialism-because-i/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [If you go to the city of Washington, you will find that almost all of those corporation lawyers and cowardly politicians, members of congress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/if-you-go-to-the-city-of-washington-you-will-find-that-almost-all-of/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The truth has always been dangerous to the rule of the rogue, the exploiter, the robber. So the truth must be supressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-truth-has-always-been-dangerous-to-the-rule-of-the-rogue-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Explore all 87 Eugene V. Debs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... 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It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not a capitalist soldier; I am a proletarian revolutionist. I do not belong to the regular army of the plutocracy, but to the irregular army of the people. I refuse to obey any command to fight from the ruling class, but I will not wait to be commanded to fight for the working class. I am opposed to every war but one; I am for that war with heart and soul, and that is the world-wide war of social revolution. 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