Vladimir Lenin

Leader of Russian Revolution

Modern influential 172 sayings

Sayings by Vladimir Lenin

The advanced countries are the ones that exploit the rest of the world.

1917 — From 'Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism'.
Controversial Unverifiable

We stand for the complete destruction of the state.

1917 — From 'The State and Revolution', referring to the ultimate goal of communism.
Controversial Unverifiable

The entire question of the struggle against opportunism must be raised from the standpoint of the struggle against the bourgeoisie.

1920 — From 'Left-Wing' Communism: An Infantile Disorder.
Controversial Unverifiable

The goal of revolution is not to replace one government with another, but to replace the state itself.

1917 — From 'The State and Revolution'.
Controversial Unverifiable

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

1915 — From 'The Collapse of the Second International'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The most important thing is to win over the vanguard of the proletariat.

1902 — From 'What Is To Be Done?'.
Controversial Unverifiable

Imperialism is the eve of the social revolution of the proletariat.

1917 — From 'Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The masses must be taught to understand the necessity of revolution.

1917-1922 — General statement reflecting his views on political education.
Controversial Unverifiable

The goal of our party is the conquest of political power by the proletariat.

1902-1917 — From various writings, a core tenet of Bolshevism.
Controversial Unverifiable

We are fighting for the complete victory of the proletariat and the peasantry.

1905 — From 'Two Tactics of Social-Democracy in the Democratic Revolution'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The question of power is the fundamental question of every revolution.

1917 — From 'Letters on Tactics'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The working class alone, of all classes, is consistently revolutionary.

1905 — From 'Two Tactics of Social-Democracy in the Democratic Revolution'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The experience of all revolutions confirms that only the proletariat, as the most advanced and consistently revolutionary class, can be the leader of the entire toiling and exploited people.

1918 — From 'The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The masses are always ready to believe a lie if it is presented with sufficient conviction.

1917-1922 — Attributed, reflecting his understanding of mass psychology and propaganda.
Controversial Unverifiable

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

1917-1922 — Attributed to Lenin, reflecting his strategic thinking on neutralizing political opponents.
Controversial Confirmed

Socialism is an accounting office. That is all socialism is.

1917 — From 'The State and Revolution', emphasizing the administrative aspect of socialism.
Controversial Unverifiable

We must wage a ruthless struggle against all manifestations of nationalistic chauvinism.

1917-1922 — From various writings, emphasizing internationalism.
Controversial Unverifiable

The only real guarantee against counter-revolution is the arming of the entire proletariat.

1917 — From 'The State and Revolution'.
Controversial Unverifiable

Revolution is a festival of the oppressed and the exploited.

1905 — From 'Two Tactics of Social-Democracy in the Democratic Revolution'.
Controversial Unverifiable

The bourgeoisie has nothing to lose but its chains. It has a world to win.

1917-1922 — Paraphrasing Marx's Communist Manifesto, but a common sentiment in Lenin's speeches and writings.
Controversial Unverifiable