Force Quote by Leon Trotsky
“The motive force of history is truth and not lies.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Leon Trotsky, 1917, addressing the Bolshevik Party
History advances when truth is pursued; falsehoods hinder progress.
In simple terms: Truth drives history, lies impede it.
Key Takeaway
Champion truth to shape the future.
Themes
history
truth
politics
ideology
progress
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political movements
- media analysis
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
propaganda
critical thinking
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms protect truth in society?
- How do lies shape historical narratives?
A Different Perspective
Truth can be suppressed by power structures.
![“[T]hat is the triumph of history - truth absolute is not at hand; the original with which to match the copy does not exist.” quote by Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1fb/jacques-barzun-3251_absolutes_t-hat-is-the-triumph-of-history-truth-ab_903654.jpg)
![“[Joseph] Stalin closes the exposition of these [Leon Trotsky] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of [Vladimir] Lenin's conception of the proletarian revolution."” quote by Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/240/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-t_33931.jpg)
![“In Stalin each [Soviet bureaucrat] easily finds himself. But Stalin also finds in each one a small part of his own spirit. Stalin is the personification of the bureaucracy. That is the substance of his political personality.” quote by Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01b/leon-trotsky-2558_bureaucracy_in-stalin-each-soviet-bureaucrat-easily_198840.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
