When Victor Adler objected to Berchtold, foreign minister of Austria-Hungary, that war would provoke revolution in Russia, even if not in the Habsburg monarchy, he replied: 'And who will lead this revolution? Perhaps Mr. Bronstein sitting over there at the Cafe Central?'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Trotsky recalls Victor Adler warning that war would spark revolution in Russia, to which Berchtold cynically suggested the revolution might be led by Trotsky himself.
- In plain terms
- Trotsky highlights how his rivals underestimated his role in future revolutionary events.
- What can you take from it?
- Political opponents often misjudge the leaders who will emerge from social upheaval.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do leaders underestimate future rivals?
- What role does irony play in political history?
Another view
The quote relies on specific historical context that may be unclear without prior knowledge.
More from Leon Trotsky
In a serious struggle there is no worse cruelty than to be magnanimous at an inopportune time.
Permalink to quote #35 Proof of Trotsky's farsightedness is that none of his predictions has yet come true.
Permalink to quote #37 We must accept decisively and without any reservation the complete and unconditional right of the blacks to independence . . . The proletarian revolutionaries …
Permalink to quote #34
Related quotes
The struggle against war, properly understood and executed, presupposes the uncompromising hostility of the proletariat and its organizations, always and every…
Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky quote #3 Allow me to say how manly and humanly great of you I think this is. Your courageous and firm intervention have met with nothing but recognition throughout the …
Franz von PapenFranz von Papen quote #7 Exstat et sermo eius in senatu percivilis: 'Siquidem locutus aliter fuerit, dabo operam ut rationem factorum meorum dictorumque reddam; si perseveraverit, in v…
SuetoniusSuetonius quote #10