--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In capitalist society we have a democracy…" description: "\"In capitalist society we have a democracy that is curtailed, wretched, false, a democracy only for the rich, for the minority. The dictatorship of the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/vladimir-lenin-1306_capitalist_in-capitalist-society-we-have-a-democrac_618804.jpg" --- # In capitalist society we have a democracy that is… ![“In capitalist society we have a democracy that is curtailed, wretched, false, a democracy only for the rich, for the minority. The dictatorship of the proletariat, the period of transition to communism, will for the first time create democracy for the people, for the majority, along with the…” quote by Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/vladimir-lenin-1306_capitalist_in-capitalist-society-we-have-a-democrac_618804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/vladimir-lenin-1306_capitalist_in-capitalist-society-we-have-a-democrac_618804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/vladimir-lenin-1306_capitalist_in-capitalist-society-we-have-a-democrac_618804.jpg) > “In capitalist society we have a democracy that is curtailed, wretched, false, a democracy only for the rich, for the minority. The dictatorship of the proletariat, the period of transition to communism, will for the first time create democracy for the people, for the majority, along with the necessary suppression of the exploiters, of the minority.” [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lenin argues that existing capitalist democracies serve only the elite, and that a transitional proletarian dictatorship will finally establish true democracy for the majority by suppressing exploiters. **In simple terms:** Capitalist democracy favors the rich; proletarian rule will create real democracy. Key Takeaway True democracy requires power shift. Themes politics democracy class struggle Mood revolutionary ideological Type serious analytical When to use this quote - political theory - revolutionary movements - policy debates Key Concepts proletarian dictatorship transition to communism Questions to Reflect On - Can a dictatorship truly become democratic? - What safeguards prevent new oppression? A Different Perspective Implementation may lead to authoritarian excesses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proletariat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proletariat/) [Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transition/) ## Related quotes > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. 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Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Constitution created a system of checks and balances designed to prevent the president from becoming a king or a dictator. Our founders had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/the-constitution-created-a-system-of-checks-and-balances-designed-to/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [There's a lot of really wonderful things about the United States of America, especially its ethnic diversity and its mostly successful struggle to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-tobar/there-s-a-lot-of-really-wonderful-things-about-the-united-states-of/) [Hector Tobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-tobar/) > [Ultimately, we didn't go to Germany to create a democracy. We went to overthrow Adolf Hitler. But once a democracy was there, Germany was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/ultimately-we-didn-t-go-to-germany-to-create-a-democracy-we-went-to/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## More by Vladimir Lenin > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Honesty in politics is the result of strength; hypocrisy is the result of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/honesty-in-politics-is-the-result-of-strength-hypocrisy-is-the-result/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [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/) > [For the complete extinction of the state, complete Communism is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/for-the-complete-extinction-of-the-state-complete-communism-is/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [The reflection of nature in man's thought must be understood not lifelessly but in the eternal process of movement, the arising of contradictions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-reflection-of-nature-in-man-s-thought-must-be-understood-not/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/our-program-necessarily-includes-the-propaganda-of-atheism/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-best-way-to-destroy-the-capitalist-system-is-to-debauch-the/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [“Private property based on the labour of the small proprietor, free competition, democracy, i.e., all the catchwords with which the capitalists and their press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/private-property-based-on-the-labour-of-the-small-proprietor-free/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Can a nation be free if it oppresses other nations? It cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/can-a-nation-be-free-if-it-oppresses-other-nations-it-cannot/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [International unity of the workers is more important than the national.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/international-unity-of-the-workers-is-more-important-than-the-national/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [I don't care what becomes of Russia. To hell with it. All this is only the road to a World Revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/i-don-t-care-what-becomes-of-russia-to-hell-with-it-all-this-is-only/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [I must say that the tasks of the youth in general, and of the Young Communist Leagues and all other organisations in particular, might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/i-must-say-that-the-tasks-of-the-youth-in-general-and-of-the-young/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [People always have been the foolish victims of deception and self-deception in politics, and they always will be, until they have learned to seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/people-always-have-been-the-foolish-victims-of-deception-and-self/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [One would like to stroke and caress human beings, but one dares not do so, because they bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/one-would-like-to-stroke-and-caress-human-beings-but-one-dares-not-do/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [As an ultimate objective, "peace" simply means communist world control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/as-an-ultimate-objective-peace-simply-means-communist-world-control/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) [Explore all 258 Vladimir Lenin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) ## More Capitalist quotes > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [As the variable capital always stays in the hands of the capitalist in some form or other, it cannot be claimed in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-the-variable-capital-always-stays-in-the-hands-of-the-capitalist/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [When I was young, I worked for a capitalist twelve hours a day and I was always tired. Now I work for myself twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/when-i-was-young-i-worked-for-a-capitalist-twelve-hours-a-day-and-i/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [“Capitalist cycle of profit. The rancher sells a cow for profit. The butcher sells cuts for profit. The restaurant sells meals for profit. 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Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [Capitalism has created a situation called scarcity. And that scarcity is not natural, it's socially induced. Along with that sense of scarcity, or feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/capitalism-has-created-a-situation-called-scarcity-and-that-scarcity/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [... what we should be looking for is fresh ideas of how we make moral decisions about our dealings with one another, economic, social,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-mccaughey/what-we-should-be-looking-for-is-fresh-ideas-of-how-we-make-moral/) Davis McCaughey > [When you come from a family of communists and you go through your teenage rebellion, what's the best way of rebelling from a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/when-you-come-from-a-family-of-communists-and-you-go-through-your/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [The Enron scandal calls into question the integrity of the entire capitalist system, which previously we assumed was based on honest, straightforward greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-achenbach/the-enron-scandal-calls-into-question-the-integrity-of-the-entire/) [Joel Achenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-achenbach/) > [Human beings were behaving as human beings and not as cogs in the capitalist machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/human-beings-were-behaving-as-human-beings-and-not-as-cogs-in-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Beautiful women must think about their beauty as capitalists think about their investments or politicians about their majorities; it is all they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/beautiful-women-must-think-about-their-beauty-as-capitalists-think/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) Browse all 968 Capitalist quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In capitalist society we have a democracy that is curtailed, wretched, false, a democracy only for the rich, for the minority. 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