“Pacifism, the preaching of peace in the abstract, is one of the means of duping the working class.”

A democracy is a state which recognizes the subjection of the minority to the majority, that is, an organization for the systematic use of violence by one class against the other, by one part of the population against another.

Only by abolishing private property in land and building cheap and hygienic dwellings can the housing problem be solved.

We must pursue the removal of church property by any means necessary in order to secure for ourselves a fund of several hundred million gold rubles.

We do not have time to play at “oppositions” at “conferences.” We will keep our political opponents,whether open or disguised as “nonparty,” in prison.

Trust is good, but control is better.

We would be deceiving both ourselves and the people if we concealed from the masses the necessity of a desperate, bloody war of extermination, as the immediate task of the coming revolutionary action.

You must have your heart on fire and your brain on ice.

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.

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

Don’t be afraid to admit defeat. Learn from defeat. Do over again more thoroughly, more carefully, and more systematically what you have done badly.

Those who are opposed to armed uprising. Must be ruthlessly kicked out as enemies, traitors and cowards.

Everyone is free to write and say whatever he likes, without any restrictions.

Honesty in politics is the result of strength; hypocrisy is the result of weakness.

But I can’t listen to music too often. It affects your nerves, makes you want to say stupid, nice things, and stroke the heads of people who could create such beauty while living in this vile hell.

One cannot live in society and be free from society.

The goal of socialism is communism.

One can’t love humanity. One can only love people.

It is the talent of human nature to run from one extreme to another.

One good test is worth a thousand expert opinions.

There’s only one great evil in the world today. Despair.

In one consort there sat cruel revenge and rancorous despite, disloyal treason and heart-burning hate.

Sooner or later; one has to take sides. If one is to remain human.

For whatsoever from one place doth fall, Is with the tide unto an other brought: For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.

A lady who sets her heart upon a lad in uniform must prepare to change lovers pretty quickly, or her life will be but a sad one.