It is impossible to predict the time and progress of revolution. It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.
Vladimir LeninRead
America has become one of the foremost countries in regard to the depth of the abyss which lies between the handful of arrogant multimillionaires who wallow in filth and luxury, and the millions of working people who constantly live on the verge of pauperism.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the extreme wealth inequality in America and its impact on society.
Vladimir Lenin's quote draws attention to the stark divide between the wealthy elite and the struggling working population in America. He emphasizes how a small number of multimillionaires live in opulence, while the majority of the population faces dire economic challenges, teetering on the edge of poverty. This reflection serves as a critique of capitalism and the social injustices that arise from such economic disparities.
In practice
In a speech about economic reform, one might reference this quote to highlight the urgency of addressing wealth inequality.
It is impossible to predict the time and progress of revolution. It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.
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How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life?
No good case exists for the inequality of real and intellectual property, because no good case can exist for treating with special disfavor the work of the spirit and the mind.
Rulers do not like to admit that their power is restricted by any laws other than those of physics and biology. They never ascribe their failures and frustrations to the violation of economic law.
Christianity is not about good people getting better. It is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.
Ask yourselves this question: How often is Jesus inside and knocking at the door to be let out, to come out? And we do not let him out because of our own need for security, because so often we are locked into ephemeral structures that serve solely to make us slaves and not free children of God.
The little incidents and accidents of every day fill us with emotion, anxiety, annoyance, passion, as long as they are close to us, when they appear so big, so important, so serious; but as soon as they are borne down the restless stream of time they lose what significance they had; we think no more of them and soon forget them altogether. They were big only because they were near.
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