Tag: Russian Social Democratic Labour Party

Against Vulgarising the Slogan of Self-Criticism

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)
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The slogan of self-criticism must not be regarded as something temporary and transient. Self-criticism is a specific method, a Bolshevik method, of training the forces of the Party and of the working class generally in the spirit of revolutionary development. Marx himself spoke of self-criticism as a method of strengthening the proletarian revolution. 1 As to self-criticism in our Party, its beginnings date back to the first appearance of Bolshevism in our country, to its very inception as a specific revolutionary trend in the working-class movement.

Against Vulgarising the Slogan of Self-Criticism

It is necessary sometimes to take one step backward to take two steps forward

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Who said, “It is necessary sometimes to take one step backward to take two steps forward”?

The phrase “It is necessary sometimes to take one step backward to take two steps forward” is often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary leader. He used a similar concept when discussing strategic retreats in politics and revolutionary movements. The idea emphasizes the importance of making temporary concessions or setbacks in order to achieve greater progress in the long run.

What work of Lenin’s is this from?

The concept of taking a step backward to take two steps forward is associated with Lenin’s 1904 pamphlet titled “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back” (“Шаг вперед, два шага назад”).

However, the phrase itself is somewhat reversed from the popular saying. In his pamphlet, Lenin was critiquing the internal disputes within the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) and addressing what he saw as a setback in the revolutionary movement. The idea he conveyed was that a temporary retreat or setback could ultimately lead to a stronger and more unified movement.

The more popular version of the phrase, emphasizing a temporary step back to move forward, likely evolved from this original concept rather than being a direct quote.

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Lenin: Socialism and Religion

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Lenin: Socialism and Religion

The economic oppression of the workers inevitably calls forth and engenders every kind of political oppression and social humiliation, the coarsening and darkening of the spiritual and moral life of the masses. The workers may secure a greater or lesser degree of political liberty to fight for their economic emancipation, but no amount of liberty will rid them of poverty, unemployment, and oppression until the power of capital is overthrown. Religion is one of the forms of spiritual oppression which everywhere weighs down heavily upon the masses of the people, over burdened by their perpetual work for others, by want and isolation. Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters just as inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death as impotence of the savage in his battle with nature gives rise to belief in gods, devils, miracles, and the like. Those who toil and live in want all their lives are taught by religion to be submissive and patient while here on earth, and to take comfort in the hope of a heavenly reward. But those who live by the labour of others are taught by religion to practise charity while on earth, thus offering them a very cheap way of justifying their entire existence as exploiters and selling them at a moderate price tickets to well-being in heaven. Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man.

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