Leon Trotsky Quotes

A collection of quotes by Leon Trotsky.

Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) was a prominent Russian Marxist revolutionary and political theorist. Born Lev Davidovich Bronstein on November 7, 1879, in the Russian Empire, he later adopted the name Trotsky. As a teenager, he became involved in radical political activities and was exiled to Siberia for his involvement in revolutionary organizations.

After his release, Trotsky played a significant role in the 1917 October Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of Soviet power in Russia. He served as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and as the founder and leader of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. Trotsky was a key figure in shaping the early Soviet Union.

However, his opposition to Joseph Stalin's increasing consolidation of power led to his downfall. In 1927, Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party and exiled from the Soviet Union. For the next decade, he lived in various countries, continuing his political activities against the Stalinist regime.

In 1940, Stalin's agents assassinated Trotsky in Mexico City, where he had sought refuge. Despite his controversial reputation, Trotsky is remembered as a highly influential Marxist thinker and a major figure in the history of the international socialist movement. His writings, including his analysis of the Russian Revolution and his critique of Stalinism, continue to inspire and shape political discourse to this day.

The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be su

The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of consciousness over blind forces - in nature, in society, in man himself.

Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to

Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man.

As long as I breathe I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fi

As long as I breathe I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fight for the future, that radiant future, in which man, strong and beautiful, will become master of the drifting stream of his history and will direct it towards the boundless horizons of beauty, joy and happiness!

Happiness Beauty History Man

There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or w

There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances.

Man will become immeasurably stronger, wiser, and subtler; h

Man will become immeasurably stronger, wiser, and subtler; his body will become more harmonious, his movements more rhythmic, his voice more musical. The forms of life will become dynamically dramatic. The average human type will rise to the heights of an Aristotle, a Goethe, or a Marx. And above these heights, new peaks will rise.

Under all conditions well-organized violence seems to him th

Under all conditions well-organized violence seems to him the shortest distance between two points.

Life is not an easy matter. You cannot live through it witho

Life is not an easy matter. You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness.

In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be m

In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be magnanimous at an inopportune time.

Technique is noticed most markedly in the case of those who

Technique is noticed most markedly in the case of those who have not mastered it.

The slanders poured down like Niagara. If you take into cons

The slanders poured down like Niagara. If you take into consideration the setting -- the war and the revolution -- and the character of the accused -- revolutionary leaders of millions who were conducting their party to the sovereign power -- you can say without exaggeration that July 1917 was the month of the most gigantic slander in world history.

Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top o

Let a man find himself, in distinction from others, on top of two wheels with a chain -- at least in a poor country like Russia -- and his vanity begins to swell out like his tires. In America it takes an automobile to produce this effect.

Revolutions are always verbose.

Revolutions are always verbose.

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by i

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

Insurrection is an art, and like all arts has its own laws.

Insurrection is an art, and like all arts has its own laws.

Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out o

Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out of necessity one has to learn from one's enemies.

Ideas that enter the mind under fire remain there securely a

Ideas that enter the mind under fire remain there securely and for ever.

You are pitiful isolated individuals; you are bankrupts; you

You are pitiful isolated individuals; you are bankrupts; your role is played out. Go where you belong from now on -- into the dustbin of history!

If the Revolution has the right to destroy bridges and art m

If the Revolution has the right to destroy bridges and art monuments whenever necessary, it will stop still less from laying its hand on any tendency in art which, no matter how great its achievement in form, threatens to disintegrate the revolutionary environment or to arouse the internal forces of the Revolution, that is, the proletariat, the peasantry and the intelligentsia, to a hostile opposition to one another. Our standard is, clearly, political, imperative and intolerant.

If we had more time for discussion we should probably have m

If we had more time for discussion we should probably have made a great many more mistakes.

Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravi

Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravitation.