Animal life Quote by J.F.C. Fuller
““There is nothing illogical in the desire of the "have-nots" to appropriate the wealth of the "haves"; in fact, it is part and parcel of the law of animal life. The bear robs the hive and the wolf the fold, and when "nature red in tooth and claw" is stretched into its human dimension, there is nothing irrational in Marx's theory that, granted the power, one social class should devour another. But what is irrational is, to assume that by robbing the hive the bear will assume the industry of the bee, or by robbing the fold the wolf will become as pacific as the sheep. It is astonishing that a man of Marx's high intelligence could have believed in ritualistic cannibalism on the social plane; that by wresting the forces of production from the bourgeoisie and centralizing them in the hands of the proletariat, the proletariat would automatically aacquire the skills of the ruling class. And it is equally astonishing that a man of Lenin's mental calibre could have attempted to put this magic into practice.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Class Struggle, 1920
Marxist theory predicts class conflict, but assuming the oppressed can instantly become the ruling class ignores the need for skills and institutions.
In simple terms: Power transfer alone won’t give the oppressed ruling abilities.
Recognize the need for capacity building in social change.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- labor union negotiations
- post‑revolutionary governance planning
- education programs for marginalized groups
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms ensure new leaders acquire necessary expertise?
- How can societies prevent power vacuums after upheaval?
Revolutionary change often faces practical limits and may produce new hierarchies.