Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that can happen to a man. Leon Trotsky More Quotes by Leon Trotsky More Quotes From Leon Trotsky I wrote a study about this question, The Lessons of October, which served as a pretext for my elimination from the government. Leon Trotsky octoberlessonsgovernment That the existence of the Soviet Union has an international revolutionary significance is a commonplace equally recognized by friends and foes. Leon Trotsky unionsexistencerevolutionary It is also false that the revolution ripens and comes to development only in the national soil. Leon Trotsky soilrevolutiondevelopment For the overthrow of the bourgeoisie, the efforts of one country are sufficient - for this we have the testimony of the history of our revolution. For the definitive victory of Socialism, for the organization of Socialist production, the efforts of one country, especially of a peasant country like Russia, are insufficient - for that are required the efforts of the proletarians of several advanced countries. Leon Trotsky russiaorganizationcountry To overthrow the power of the bourgeoisie and to establish the power of the proletariat in one country still does not signify the full victory of Socialism. Leon Trotsky bourgeoisievictorycountry What shall we call an "immediate possibility"? In 1923 the situation in Germany was profoundly revolutionary, but what was lacking for a victorious revolution was a correct strategy. Leon Trotsky strategygermanyrevolution It is therefore not true that the mere existence of the Soviet Union is capable of assuring the victory of the revolution in other countries. Leon Trotsky unionsvictorycountry I feel here that this time they have succeeded. Leon Trotsky last-wordsdyingtime England is nothing but the last ward of the European madhouse, and quite possibly it will prove to be the ward for particularly violent cases. Leon Trotsky englandrevolutionarylasts Fascism is a caricature of Jacobinism. Leon Trotsky caricaturesfascism Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with a maneuver, a blow with an agreement. Leon Trotsky forceagreementblow The history of a revolution is for us first of all a history of the forcible entrance of the masses into the realm of rulership over their own destiny. Leon Trotsky rulershipdestinyfirsts City of prose and fantasy, of capitalist automation, its streets a triumph of cubism, its moral philosophy that of the dollar. New York impressed me tremendously because, more than any other city, it is the fullest expression of our modern age. Leon Trotsky expressionnew-yorkphilosophy The task of the proletariat is to create a still more powerful fatherland with a far greater power of resistance, the Republican United States of Europe, as the foundation of the United States of the World. Leon Trotsky united-statespowerfuleurope Old age is the most unexpected of things that can happen to a man. Leon Trotsky Not believing in force is the same as not believing in gravitation. Leon Trotsky Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that happen to a man. Leon Trotsky Everyone has the right to be stupid on occasion, but Comrade Macdonald abuses the privilege. Leon Trotsky righteveryoneprivilegestupid The masses go into a revolution not with a prepared plan of social reconstruction, but with a sharp feeling that they cannot endure the old regime. Only the guiding layers of a class have a political program, and even this still requires the test of events and the approval of the masses. Leon Trotsky feelinggorevolutionpolitical Events can neither be regarded as a series of adventures nor strung on the thread of a preconceived moral. They must obey their own laws. Leon Trotsky mustownmoralevents
