Leon Trotsky

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.

The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of consciousness over blind forces – in nature, in society, in man himself.

Abusive language and swearing are a legacy of slavery, humiliation, and disrespect for human dignity, one’s own and that of other people.

Revolutions are always verbose.

The dynamic of revolutionary events is directly determined by swift, intense, and passionate changes in the psychology of classes which have already formed themselves before the revolution.

A good End cannot sanctifie evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it. Some Folks think they may Scold, Rail, Hate, Rob and Kill too; so it be but for God’s sake. But nothing in us unlike him, can please him.

Zeal ever follows an appearance of truth, and the assured are too apt to be warm; but it is their weak side in argument; zeal being better shown against sin than persons, or their mistakes.

People sleep, and when they die they wake.

Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.

The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.

Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.

Most of the shadows of life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.

Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.

Eat therefore to live, and do not live to eat.

I do not hold that we should rearm in order to fight. I hold that we should rearm in order to parley.

The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.

A little learning is a dangerous thing, but we must take that risk because a little is as much as our biggest heads can hold.

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

Right is right even if everyone is against it and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.

I see the whole concept of Generation X implies that everyone has lost hope.