Top 249 Quotes & Sayings by Vladimir Lenin

If it were necessary to give the briefest possible definition of imperialism, we should have to say that imperialism is the monopoly stage of capitalism.

Can a nation be free if it oppresses other nations? It cannot.

Under socialism all will govern in turn and will soon become accustomed to no one governing.

Any cook should be able to run the country.

The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency.

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

To rely upon conviction, devotion, and other excellent spiritual qualities; that is not to be taken seriously in politics.

There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.

Capitalists are no more capable of self-sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself up by his own bootstraps.

The government is tottering. We must deal it the death blow an any cost. To delay action is the same as death.

Fascism is capitalism in decay.

Without a revolutionary theory there cannot be a revolutionary movement.

It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed.

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

Sometimes - history needs a push.

When there is state there can be no freedom, but when there is freedom there will be no state.

It is impossible to predict the time and progress of revolution. It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.

Every cook has to learn how to govern the state.

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.

One man with a gun can control 100 without one.

While the State exists there can be no freedom; when there is freedom there will be no State.

Give us the child for 8 years and it will be a Bolshevik forever.

The most important thing when ill is to never lose heart.

No amount of political freedom will satisfy the hungry masses.

The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them in parliament.

Democracy is indispensable to socialism.

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

Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.

Politics begin where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions, that is where serious politics begin.

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

The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.

Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle. The modern industrial proletariat does not belong to the category of such classes.

If Socialism can only be realized when the intellectual development of all the people permits it, then we shall not see Socialism for at least five hundred years.

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

Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.

The goal of socialism is communism.

When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward - or go back. He who now talks about the 'freedom of the press' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism.

Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism.

Crime is a product of social excess.

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

It is necessary - secretly and urgently to prepare the terror.

Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinions calculated to embarrass the government?

The establishment of a central bank is 90% of communizing a nation.

Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism.

We want to achieve a new and better order of society: in this new and better society there must be neither rich nor poor; all will have to work. Not a handful of rich people, but all the working people must enjoy the fruits of their common labour. Machines and other improvements must serve to ease the work of all and not to enable a few to grow rich at the expense of millions and tens of millions of people. This new and better society is called socialist society.

Germany will militarize herself out of existence, England will expand herself out of existence, and America will spend herself out of existence.

It is, of course, much easier to shout, abuse, and howl than to attempt to relate, to explain.

Give me just one generation of youth, and I'll transform the whole world.

As an ultimate objective, "peace" simply means communist world control.

We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us.

There can be nothing more abominable than religion.

We are not shooting enough professors.

You must act with all energy. Mass searches. Execution for concealing arms.

Truth is the most precious thing. That's why we should ration it.

People always have been and they always will be stupid victims of deceit and self-deception in politics.

Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism.

Give us the child for eight years and it will be a Bolshevik forever.

Give me your four year olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state.

One of the basic conditions for the victory of socialism is the arming of the workers Communist and the disarming of the bourgeoisie the middle class.

Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by the use of violence by the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, rule that is unrestricted by any laws.