---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can and must! The proclamation of this…"
description: "\"Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of [Joseph Stalin] is closed by the same words, \"Such are in general the characteristic features ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg"
---

#  Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of…

![“Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of &#91;Joseph Stalin&#93; is closed by the same words, &quot;Such are in general the characteristic features of Lenin's conception of the proletarian revolution.&quot; In the course of a single year Stalin ascribed to &#91;Vladimir&#93; Lenin two directly opposed…” quote by Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg)

> “Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of \[Joseph Stalin\] is closed by the same words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of Lenin's conception of the proletarian revolution." In the course of a single year Stalin ascribed to \[Vladimir\] Lenin two directly opposed conceptions of the fundamental question of socialism. The first version represents the real tradition of the party; the second took shape in Stalin's mind only after the death of Lenin, in the course of the struggle against "Trotskyism".”

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stalin’s shifting views on socialism contrast with Lenin’s.

**In simple terms:** Stalin altered socialism concepts after Lenin’s death.

Key Takeaway

Study political ideology evolution.

Themes

politics ideology history

Mood

critical historical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- academic research
- political analysis
- education
- activism

Key Concepts

marxism power dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why did Stalin reinterpret Lenin?
- What impact did this have on socialism?

A Different Perspective

Historical context may explain shifts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Features Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features-lenin-1886460/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Joseph stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joseph-stalin/) [Lenin Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenin-conception-1886461/) [Lenin Directly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenin-directly-1886458/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Proclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proclamation/) [Question Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-socialism-1886459/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Trotskyism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trotskyism-194659/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Versions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/versions/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/)

## Related quotes

> [“Therefore it is not arrogance or narrow-mindedness that leads the economist to discuss these things from the standpoint of economics. No one, who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/therefore-it-is-not-arrogance-or-narrow-mindedness-that-leads-the/)

[Ludwig Von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [“The question of socialism or communism or capitalism or between the left and right – I think the important question is between the industrial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-question-of-socialism-or-communism-or-capitalism-or-between-the/)

[Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/)

> [Trotskyism is not a new movement, a new doctrine, but the restoration, the revival of genuine Marxism as it was expounded and practiced in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-cannon/trotskyism-is-not-a-new-movement-a-new-doctrine-but-the-restoration/)

[James P. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-cannon/)

> [“Trotsky was so much an intellectual that in the final analysis, Marxism was not quite enough for him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/trotsky-was-so-much-an-intellectual-that-in-the-final-analysis/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“I have been taunted on various platforms recently for becoming a neo-conservative, and have been the object of some fascinating web-site and blog stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-have-been-taunted-on-various-platforms-recently-for-becoming-a-neo/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“He who does not cry out the truth when he knows the truth becomes the accomplice of the liars and falsifiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-serge/he-who-does-not-cry-out-the-truth-when-he-knows-the-truth-becomes-the/)

[Victor Serge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-serge/)

> [ Our differences with \[Joseph\] Stalin are entirely of a strategical character. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/our-differences-with-joseph-stalin-are-entirely-of-a-strategical/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [ Only in the Fall of 1924 did \[Joseph\] Stalin discover that it is especially Russia, as distinguished from other countries, which can by its… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/only-in-the-fall-of-1924-did-joseph-stalin-discover-that-it-is/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [ Only when the kulak refused to deliver grain to the State did \[Joseph\] Stalin, under the pressure of the Left Opposition, accomplish a sharp… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/only-when-the-kulak-refused-to-deliver-grain-to-the-state-did-joseph/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [Joseph Stalin is a titan of thought. His name is to be given to an entire century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/palmiro-togliatti/joseph-stalin-is-a-titan-of-thought-his-name-is-to-be-given-to-an/)

[Palmiro Togliatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/palmiro-togliatti/)

> [“Besides Getting my ass kicked, my main accomplishment on this trip has been to massacre an incredible number of completely innocent clothes. I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/besides-getting-my-ass-kicked-my-main-accomplishment-on-this-trip-has/)

[Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/)

> [“Even in former days, Korea was known as the 'hermit kingdom' for its stubborn resistance to outsiders. And if you wanted to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/even-in-former-days-korea-was-known-as-the-hermit-kingdom-for-its/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“Once in power, Stalin’s campaign to succeed Lenin required a legitimate heroic career which he did not possess because of his experience in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/once-in-power-stalin-s-campaign-to-succeed-lenin-required-a/)

[Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/)

> [“Is it too imaginative to say that if the Schlieffen Plan had worked, Adolf Hitler might have remained a private in the List Regiment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-stokesbury/is-it-too-imaginative-to-say-that-if-the-schlieffen-plan-had-worked/)

[James L. Stokesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-stokesbury/)

> [“It may seem somewhat ironic that the Catholic Church finds itself advocating the same position against abortion as its severest Christian critics, the Protestant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-holland/it-may-seem-somewhat-ironic-that-the-catholic-church-finds-itself/)

[Jack Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-holland/)

## More by Leon Trotsky

> [The dialectic is neither fiction nor mysticism, but a science of the forms of our thinking insofar as it is not limited to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-dialectic-is-neither-fiction-nor-mysticism-but-a-science-of-the/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [The creative union of the conscious with the unconscious is what one usually calls 'inspiration.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-creative-union-of-the-conscious-with-the-unconscious-is-what-one/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [Religions are illogical primitive ignorance. There is nothing as ridiculous and tragic as a religious government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/religions-are-illogical-primitive-ignorance-there-is-nothing-as/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [“As a battle cry against feudalism, the demand for democracy had a progressive character. As time went on, however, the metaphysics of natural law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/as-a-battle-cry-against-feudalism-the-demand-for-democracy-had-a/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [All the parties of capitalist society, all its moralists and all its sycophants will perish beneath the debris of the impending catastrophe. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/all-the-parties-of-capitalist-society-all-its-moralists-and-all-its/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [What shall we call an "immediate possibility"? In 1923 the situation in Germany was profoundly revolutionary, but what was lacking for a victorious revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/what-shall-we-call-an-immediate-possibility-in-1923-the-situation-in/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [The history of a revolution is for us first of all a history of the forcible entrance of the masses into the realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-history-of-a-revolution-is-for-us-first-of-all-a-history-of-the/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [I wrote a study about this question, The Lessons of October, which served as a pretext for my elimination from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/i-wrote-a-study-about-this-question-the-lessons-of-october-which/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [A program of "disarmament," while imperialist antagonisms survive, is the most pernicious of fictions. Even if it were realized by way of general agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/a-program-of-disarmament-while-imperialist-antagonisms-survive-is-the/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [ In Stalin each \[Soviet bureaucrat\] easily finds himself. But Stalin also finds in each one a small part of his own spirit. Stalin is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/in-stalin-each-soviet-bureaucrat-easily-finds-himself-but-stalin-also/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [As long as I breathe I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fight for the future, that radiant future, in which man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/as-long-as-i-breathe-i-hope-as-long-as-i-breathe-i-shall-fight-for/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [If we had had more time for discussion we should probably have made a great many more mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/if-we-had-had-more-time-for-discussion-we-should-probably-have-made-a/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [Is it possible to fulfill this task, is it possible to achieve the definite victory of Socialism in one country without the combined efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/is-it-possible-to-fulfill-this-task-is-it-possible-to-achieve-the/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [The motive force of history is truth and not lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-motive-force-of-history-is-truth-and-not-lies/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

[Explore all 161 Leon Trotsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

## More Characteristics quotes

> [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/)

[Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/)

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/)

[Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/)

> [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/)

[Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/)

[Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/)

> [Philanthropy is one of the most hopeful characteristics of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-livermore/philanthropy-is-one-of-the-most-hopeful-characteristics-of-our-time/)

[Mary Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-livermore/)

> [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/)

[Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/)

> [The most significant moment will be when we stop referring to the hiring of qualified women (and racial, ethnic and religious minorities) as significant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/the-most-significant-moment-will-be-when-we-stop-referring-to-the/)

[Amy Trask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-trask/)

> [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [It is true that 'I seem to see a table' does not entail 'I see a table'; but 'I seem to feel a pain'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-strawson/it-is-true-that-i-seem-to-see-a-table-does-not-entail-i-see-a-table/)

[Galen Strawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-strawson/)

[Browse all 1,325 Characteristics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of [Joseph Stalin] is closed by the same words, \"Such are in general the characteristic features of Lenin's conception of the proletarian revolution.\" In the course of a single year Stalin ascribed to [Vladimir] Lenin two directly opposed conceptions of the fundamental question of socialism. The first version represents the real tradition of the party; the second took shape in Stalin's mind only after the death of Lenin, in the course of the struggle against \"Trotskyism\".",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leon Trotsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-new-conception-of-joseph-stalin/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Characteristics"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-new-conception-of-joseph-stalin/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/leon-trotsky-2558_characteristics_can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-ne_2594181.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Can and must! The proclamation of this new conception of [Joseph Stalin] is closed by the same words, \"Such…” — Leon Trotsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Leon Trotsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Can and must! The proclamation of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-new-conception-of-joseph-stalin/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/can-and-must-the-proclamation-of-this-new-conception-of-joseph-stalin/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
