Authoritarians Quote by Vladimir Lenin
““Have these gentlemen ever seen a revolution? A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is an act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part by means of rifles, bayonets, and cannons, all of which are highly authoritarian means. And the victorious party must maintain its rule by means of the terror which its arms inspire in the reactionaries. Would the Paris Commune have lasted more than a day if it had not used the authority of the armed people against the bourgeoisie? Cannot we, on the contrary, blame it for having made too little use of that authority? Therefore, one of two things: either that anti-authoritarians don’t know what they are talking about, in which case they are creating nothing but confusion. Or they do know, and in that case they are betraying the cause of the proletariat. In either case they serve only reaction.8 This””
About This Quote
Source Speech: The State and Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, 1917
Lenin argues that revolutions inherently use force and authoritarian means, and that failing to fully employ armed power betrays revolutionary goals.
In simple terms: Revolutions use force; not using it fully is a betrayal.
Key Takeaway
Embrace decisive action in revolutionary contexts.
Themes
revolution
authority
violence
politics
class struggle
Mood
tense
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- political uprisings
- workers' movements
- colonial struggles
- social reforms
Key Concepts
Marxism
state theory
revolutionary strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is violence ever justified in achieving political change?
- How can revolutions maintain ethical standards?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on force can lead to oppression and loss of moral legitimacy.
