Constitution Quote by Rosa Luxemburg
“The existing legal constitution is nothing but the product of a revolution. Revolution is the act of political creation in the history of classes, while constitutional legislation is the expression of the continual political vegetation of a society.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Accumulation of Capital, 1913
Constitutions arise from revolutionary upheavals and reflect ongoing class dynamics, not static law.
In simple terms: Constitutions are born from revolutions and class change.
Key Takeaway
Recognize law as a living, class‑shaped process.
Themes
politics
law
class struggle
revolution
history
Mood
critical
analytical
reflective
Type
theoretical
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- legal reform
- activist strategy
- academic study
- public debate
Key Concepts
dialectical materialism
political theory
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current constitutions reflect class interests?
- Can law be reformed without revolution?
A Different Perspective
Constitutions can also be tools of oppression, limiting transformative potential.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
