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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lenin says that a revolution is marked by state power shifting from one class to another.
In plain terms
Revolution = transfer of state power between classes.
What can you take from it?
Power change defines revolutionary moments.

Where it applies

  • political upheavals
  • regime changes

Putting it to work

  • analyzing power transfers
  • documenting class shifts

Questions to consider

  • What signals a true power shift?
  • How lasting are revolutionary changes?

Another view

Power may stay within elite circles despite nominal change.

More from Vladimir Lenin

  1. Our aim is to achieve a socialist system of society, which, by eliminating the division of mankind into classes, by eliminating all exploitation of man by man …

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  2. Man's consciousness not only reflects the objective world, but creates it.

    Permalink to quote #10
  3. Communism cannot be imposed by force.

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