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...the very cannibalism of the counterrevolution will convince the nations that there is only one way in which the murderous death agonies of the old society and the bloody birth throes of the new society can be shortened, simplified and concentrated, and that way is revolutionary terror.
Karl Marx
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that through revolutionary actions, societies can transition from oppressive systems to new ones more swiftly.

Karl Marx's quote reflects his belief in the necessity of violent upheaval to achieve societal change. He posits that the existing oppressive structures must be dismantled through radical means, including 'revolutionary terror,' to bring about a new society. This perspective highlights the urgency and the brutal realities of both societal decay and the birth of revolutionary change, suggesting that only through significant upheaval can a society hope to move toward a more just future.

Themes

RevolutionSocietyChangeViolenceMarx

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about the necessity of radical change in society.

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