Joseph Stalin (1879–1953) General secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Foundations of Leninism
The Spirit of Revolt (1880)
Context: There are periods in the life of human society when revolution becomes an imperative necessity, when it proclaims itself as inevitable. New ideas germinate everywhere, seeking to force their way into the light, to find an application in life; everywhere they are opposed by the inertia of those whose interest it is to maintain the old order; they suffocate in the stifling atmosphere of prejudice and traditions.
Joseph Stalin (1879–1953) General secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Foundations of Leninism
Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892) founder of the Bahá'í Faith
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
Context: The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world's Great Peace amongst men. Such a peace demandeth that the Great Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquillity of the peoples of the earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves. Should any king take up arms against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him. If this be done, the nations of the world will no longer require any armaments, except for the purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal order within their territories. <!-- p. 249
“Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most.”
Norman Mailer book Barbary Shore
McLeod, in Ch. 29
Barbary Shore (1951)
Peter Kropotkin (1842–1921) Russian zoologist, evolutionary theorist, philosopher, scientist, revolutionary, economist, activist, geogr…
Anarchism: Its Philosophy and Ideal (1896)
Oriana Fallaci book The Rage and the Pride
The Rage and The Pride (2001). Editor Random House Incorporated, 2002 ISBN 0847825043, 9780847825042. p. 17.
The Rage and the Pride (2002)
“Love fascinates when your happiness becomes its necessity.”
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: (it) L'amore affascina quando la tua felicità diventa la sua necessità.
Source: prevale.net
Rosa Luxemburg (1871–1919) Polish Marxist theorist, socialist philosopher, and revolutionary
Source: Reform or Revolution (1899), Ch. 8
Robert Owen (1771–1858) Welsh social reformer
A New View of Society (1813-1816)
Context: It is confidently expected that the period is at hand, when man, through ignorance, shall not much longer inflict unnecessary misery on man; because the mass of mankind will become enlightened, and will clearly discern that by so acting they will inevitably create misery to themselves. As soon as the public mind shall be sufficiently prepared to receive it, the practical detail of this system shall be fully developed. For the extensive knowledge of the facts which present themselves on the globe, makes it evident to those whose reasoning faculties have not been entirely paralysed, that all mankind firmly believe, that everybody except themselves has been grievously deceived in his fundamental principles; and feel the utmost astonishment that the nations of the world could embrace such gross inconsistencies for divine or political truths. Most persons are now also prepared to understand, that these weaknesses are firmly and conscientiously fixed in the minds of millions, who, when born, possessed equal faculties with themselves. And although they plainly discern in others what they deem inconceivable aberrations of the mental powers, yet, in despite of such facts, they are taught to believe that they themselves could not have been so deceived; and this impression is made upon the infant mind with the greatest ease, whether it be to create followers of the most ignorant, or of the most enlightened systems.