Appearance Quote by Friedrich Engels
“Three hundred years after its appearance Christianity was the recognized state religion in the Roman World Empire, and in barely sixty years socialism has won itself a position which makes its victory absolutely certain.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Condition of the Working Class in England, 1845
The quote suggests that ideologies rise and fall rapidly, with Christianity once dominant and socialism now seemingly inevitable.
In simple terms: Ideas shift quickly; socialism appears unstoppable.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how quickly dominant ideas can change.
Themes
history
politics
ideology
change
religion
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
historical
predictive
When to use this quote
- political movements
- religious reforms
- social policy planning
- public opinion
Key Concepts
Marxism
social evolution
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors could challenge socialism’s dominance?
- How do past ideological shifts inform current trends?
A Different Perspective
The prediction may overstate socialism’s certainty and ignore future counter‑movements.
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![“It [the State] has taken on a vast mass of new duties and responsibilities; it has spread out its powers until they penetrate to every act of the citizen, however secret; it has begun to throw around its operations the high dignity and impeccability of a State religion; its agents become a…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c4a/h-l-mencken-245_agents_it-the-state-has-taken-on-a-vast-mass-of_717956.jpg)
![“I have learned more [from Balzac] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together.” quote by Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/22f/friedrich-engels-8301_balzac_i-have-learned-more-from-balzac-than-fro_62197.jpg)
![“...it was always our view that in order to attain this [proletarian revolution] and the other far more important aims of the future social revolution, the working class must first take possession of the organised political power of the state and by its aid crush the resistance of the capitalist…” quote by Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/458/friedrich-engels-8301_aids_it-was-always-our-view-that-in-order-to_258810.jpg)
