--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Political power, properly so called, is…" description: "\"“Political power, properly so called, is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing another. If the proletariat during its contest with the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/karl-marx-399_political-power_political-power-properly-so-called-is-me_1002348.jpg" --- # Political power, properly so called, is merely the… ![“Political power, properly so called, is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing another. If the proletariat during its contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to organise itself as a class, if, by means of a revolution, it makes itself the ruling…” quote by Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/karl-marx-399_political-power_political-power-properly-so-called-is-me_1002348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/karl-marx-399_political-power_political-power-properly-so-called-is-me_1002348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/karl-marx-399_political-power_political-power-properly-so-called-is-me_1002348.jpg) > ““Political power, properly so called, is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing another. If the proletariat during its contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to organise itself as a class, if, by means of a revolution, it makes itself the ruling class, and, as such, sweeps away by force the old conditions of production, then it will, along with these conditions, have swept away the conditions for the existence of class antagonisms and of classes generally, and will thereby have abolished its own supremacy as a class.”” [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Class power arises from organized oppression; revolution can dissolve class hierarchies, but also creates new ruling classes. **In simple terms:** Revolution changes who holds power. Key Takeaway Understand power dynamics in societal change. Themes politics class revolution power Mood critical serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political activism - education - policy making - community organizing Key Concepts marxism historical materialism social theory Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent new hierarchies? - How can true equality be sustained? A Different Perspective Revolution may replace one oppression with another. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bourgeoisie Compelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bourgeoisie-compelled-2123200/) [Means Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-revolution-360962/) [Organised Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organised-power-2123201/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Ruling class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-class/) ## Related quotes > [“When, in the course of development, class distinctions have disappeared and all production has been concentrated in the hands of a vast association of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/when-in-the-course-of-development-class-distinctions-have-disappeared/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Feminism means revolution and I am a revolutionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-perkins/feminism-means-revolution-and-i-am-a-revolutionist/) [Frances Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-perkins/) > [The revolution has overthrown the monarchy, true! 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