Although the Russian bourgeois revolution of 1905-07 displayed no such 'brilliant' successes as at time fell to the Portuguese and Turkish revolutions, it was undoubtedly a 'real people's' revolution, since the mass of the people, their majority, the very lowest social groups, crushed by oppression and exploitation, rose independently and stamped on the entire course of the revolution the imprint of their own demands, their attempt to build in their own way a new society in place of the old society that was being destroyed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Lenin describes the 1905‑07 Russian revolution as a genuine popular uprising driven by the lowest classes demanding their own society.
- In plain terms
- The masses rose on their own to build a new society.
- What can you take from it?
- Grassroots movements can shape revolutionary outcomes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What role did leadership play?
- How did external factors influence the revolution?
Another view
The description may romanticize the level of independent action.
More from Vladimir Lenin
It is not for nothing that Skaldin in one part of his book quotes Adam Smith: we have seen that both his views and the character of his arguments in many respe…
Permalink to quote #30 For the state to wither away completely, complete communism is necessary.
Permalink to quote #32 Socialism, by organising production without class oppression, by ensuring the well-being of all members of the state, gives full play to the 'sympathies' of th…
Permalink to quote #29
Related quotes
All revolutions devour their own children.
Ernst RoehmErnst Roehm quote #7 What do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds …
John AdamsJohn Adams quote #48 Socialism has never and nowhere been at first a working-class movement. It is by no means an obvious remedy for the obvious evil which the interests of that cl…
Friedrich HayekFriedrich Hayek quote #1