--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was…" description: "\"“What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was to Marxize the INNER man. To secularize him to the point of godlessness. Only when that was done could you s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/robert-chandler-55488_communism_what-was-essential-insisted-gramsci-was_843930.jpg" --- # What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was to Marxize the… ![“What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was to Marxize the INNER man. To secularize him to the point of godlessness. Only when that was done could you successfully dangle the utopia of the ‘Workers’ Paradise’ before his eyes, to be accepted in a peaceful and humanly agreeable manner, without…” quote by Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/robert-chandler-55488_communism_what-was-essential-insisted-gramsci-was_843930.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/robert-chandler-55488_communism_what-was-essential-insisted-gramsci-was_843930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/robert-chandler-55488_communism_what-was-essential-insisted-gramsci-was_843930.jpg) > ““What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was to Marxize the INNER man. To secularize him to the point of godlessness. Only when that was done could you successfully dangle the utopia of the ‘Workers’ Paradise’ before his eyes, to be accepted in a peaceful and humanly agreeable manner, without revolution, violence or bloodshed.”” [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transforming personal consciousness is seen as a prerequisite for societal change without violence. **In simple terms:** Change minds before systems. Key Takeaway Cultivate critical self‑reflection. Themes politics ideology humanism revolution peace Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education reform - community organizing - personal development - peaceful activism Key Concepts Marxism cultural hegemony psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can personal change alone achieve systemic justice? - What role do institutions play in shaping consciousness? A Different Perspective Assumes all individuals can be convinced, ignoring structural constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) ## Related quotes > [“Whether we "spiritualize" our life or "secularize" our religion, whether we invite men to a spiritual banquet or simply join them at the secular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/whether-we-spiritualize-our-life-or-secularize-our-religion-whether/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [There is something almost sacred about the Internet. I'm trying to secularize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/there-is-something-almost-sacred-about-the-internet-i-m-trying-to/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [Government sponsorship of religious activity, including prayer services, sacred symbols, religious festivals, and the like, tends to secularize the religious activity rather than make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-swomley/government-sponsorship-of-religious-activity-including-prayer/) [John M Swomley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-swomley/) > [Beginning in 1962... the courts began to systematically secularize the nation, reflecting its view that God and the Scripture had no place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scarborough/beginning-in-1962-the-courts-began-to-systematically-secularize-the/) [Rick Scarborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scarborough/) > [If I paint a hammer and sickle people may think it is a representation of Communism, but for me it is only a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/if-i-paint-a-hammer-and-sickle-people-may-think-it-is-a/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Socialists and Progressives confuse compassion and compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/socialists-and-progressives-confuse-compassion-and-compulsion/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [“Despite Soviet 'defeat' in 1991, the ideas associated with Communism remain shockingly reputable throughout what we still know as the Free World.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-west/despite-soviet-defeat-in-1991-the-ideas-associated-with-communism/) Diana West > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. Communism, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/it-is-popular-to-call-it-a-crisis-of-the-western-world-it-is-in-fact/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) ## More by Robert Chandler > [“Critical Theory’s influence on the New Left in the late 1960s and 1970s ensured that American society would be infected by this Marxist malignancy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-chandler/critical-theory-s-influence-on-the-new-left-in-the-late-1960s-and/) [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) > [“The political, economic, social, and cultural realities in the early twenty-first century, as compared to the late 1960s may differ in detail, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-chandler/the-political-economic-social-and-cultural-realities-in-the-early/) [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) > [“Gramsci set out to provide a revolutionary blueprint that would pervert the Roman Catholic Church’s values of goodness and forgiveness into a mind control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-chandler/gramsci-set-out-to-provide-a-revolutionary-blueprint-that-would/) [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) > [“We’re asleep yet not asleep. We are thinking a strange thought, Thinking we are to be slaughtered, That cranberry branches are burning, That cauldrons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-chandler/we-re-asleep-yet-not-asleep-we-are-thinking-a-strange-thought/) [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) > [“The modern-day ultra-Left ideology of “Cultural Marxism” takes yesterday’s Soviet Marxist-Leninist model and stands it on its head. Revolution on this alternative path no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-chandler/the-modern-day-ultra-left-ideology-of-cultural-marxism-takes/) [Robert Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) [Explore all 6 Robert Chandler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-chandler/) ## More Communism quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. 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The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Socialists and Progressives confuse compassion and compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/socialists-and-progressives-confuse-compassion-and-compulsion/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If I paint a hammer and sickle people may think it is a representation of Communism, but for me it is only a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/if-i-paint-a-hammer-and-sickle-people-may-think-it-is-a/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Our power does not know liberty or justice. It is established on the destruction of the individual will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/our-power-does-not-know-liberty-or-justice-it-is-established-on-the/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I think it's sort of the hypothetical point where communism and fascism meet. They love tragedy, and they love surface beauty. You just watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/i-think-it-s-sort-of-the-hypothetical-point-where-communism-and/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/communism-is-inequality-but-not-as-property-is-property-is/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) [Browse all 1,510 Communism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What was essential, insisted Gramsci, was to Marxize the INNER man. To secularize him to the point of godlessness. 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