All that individuals can do is to clarify, propagate and work out ideas corresponding to the popular instinct, and, what is more, to contribute their incessant efforts to revolutionary organization of the natural power of the masses - but nothing else beyond that.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Individuals should focus on clarifying and spreading ideas that match the people's instincts while helping organize their collective power.
- In plain terms
- People should spread ideas that fit common instincts and help organize mass movements.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus on organizing mass power rather than acting alone.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you identify the popular instinct?
- What limits individual action in a revolution?
Another view
It assumes the popular instinct is always correct or aligned with liberation.
More from Mikhail Bakunin
The State is the organized authority, domination, and power of the possessing classes over the masses the most flagrant, the most cynical, and the most complet…
Permalink to quote #27 Anyone who makes plans for after the revolution is a reactionary.
Permalink to quote #29 In a word, we reject all legislation, all authority, and all privileged, licensed, official, and legal influence, even though arising from universal suffrage, …
Permalink to quote #26
Related quotes
Success is the important thing. Propaganda is not a matter for average minds, but rather a matter for practitioners. It is not supposed to be lovely or theoret…
Joseph GoebbelsJoseph Goebbels quote #1 The principle of collective leadership is elementary for a proletarian party and for a party of the Lenin type. Nevertheless, we must emphasize this old truth,…
Anastas MikoyanAnastas Mikoyan quote #2 In our eyes, individual terror is inadmissible precisely because it belittles the role of the masses in their own consciousness, reconciles them to their own p…
Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky quote #2