Vladimir Lenin

Political Philosophy Russia 1870 – 1924 99 quotes

Bolshevik leader whose writings adapted Marxism to revolutionary practice.

Quotes by Vladimir Lenin

There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.

Attributed 1917

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.

Attributed 1917

The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.

Attributed 1917

The goal of socialism is communism.

Attributed 1917

Imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism.

Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism 1916

The state is a special organisation of force: it is an organisation of violence for the suppression of some class.

The State and Revolution 1917

All power to the Soviets!

Slogan 1917

Without a revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.

What Is To Be Done? 1902

The press is the most powerful weapon in the hands of the Party.

Attributed 1917

Give us an organization of revolutionaries, and we will overturn Russia!

What Is To Be Done? 1902

A revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, not every revolutionary situation leads to revolution.

The Collapse of the Second International 1915

The more we are able to demonstrate the necessity of a firm and ruthless government, the more we shall be able to overcome the resistance of the exploiters.

Speech 1918

The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.

Attributed 1922

We must learn to combine the 'public' (non-party) work with the party work, and to test the results of the one by the other.

Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder 1920

The history of all countries shows that the working class, exclusively by its own effort, is able to develop only trade union consciousness.

What Is To Be Done? 1902

Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country.

Our Foreign and Domestic Position and Party Tasks 1920

Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: freedom for slave-owners.

The State and Revolution 1917

The most important thing is to win the war, and to win it as quickly as possible.

Speech 1918

The soundest strategy in war is to postpone operations until the morale of the enemy declines.

Attributed 1920

We will turn Russia into a land of electricity.

Speech 1920