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Revolutionary practice in any field of human existence develops by itself if one comprehends the contradictions in every new process; it consists in siding with those forces which act in the direction of progressive development. To be radical, according to Marx, means 'going to the root of things.' If one goes to the root of things, if one understands their contradictory character, the means of mastering the reaction become plain.

Wilhelm Reich#22

PoliticsPhilosophyContradictionDevelopmentRevolutionSocial change

About this quote

What does it mean?
Revolutionary progress comes from understanding contradictions and supporting forces that drive development; being radical means reaching the root of things.
In plain terms
Progress requires grasping contradictions and backing development forces.
What can you take from it?
Analyze underlying contradictions to guide revolutionary action.

Where it applies

  • social movements
  • organizational change

Putting it to work

  • study systemic contradictions
  • align with progressive forces

Questions to consider

  • How do we identify true contradictions?
  • When might radical action be counterproductive?

Another view

It assumes all contradictions are clear and actionable.

More from Wilhelm Reich

  1. It is obvious that the fascist mass pestilence, with its background of thousands of years, cannot be mastered with social measures corresponding to the past th…

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  2. The suppression of natural sexual gratification leads to various kinds of substitute gratifications. Natural aggression, for example, becomes brutal sadism whi…

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  3. The elimination of individual capitalists and the replacement of private capitalism by state capitalism in Russia has not in the least altered the typical help…

    Permalink to quote #20

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