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Leon Trotsky

7 quotes

Some people are known for what they did; Leon Trotsky is known for what they said. The range of their thinking — from War to Strength — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. Our collection holds 10 quotes from Leon Trotsky, each offering a different angle on War, Strength, Society, Peace, and Nature. Readers often gravitate to this one: "There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances."

“There is a limit to the application of democratic methods. You can inquire of all the passengers as to what type of car they like to ride in, but it is impossible to question them as to whether to apply the brakes when the train is at full speed and accident threatens.”

— Leon Trotsky

Car

All Quotes by 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.”

— Leon Trotsky

Strength

“There is a limit to the application of democratic methods. You can inquire of all the passengers as to what type of car they like to ride in, but it is impossible to question them as to whether to apply the brakes when the train is at full speed and accident threatens.”

— Leon Trotsky

Car

“There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances.”

— Leon Trotsky

Peace

“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.”

— Leon Trotsky

Nature

“Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man.”

— Leon Trotsky

Age

“Life is not an easy matter... You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness.”

— Leon Trotsky

Great

“Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out of necessity one has to learn from one's enemies.”

— Leon Trotsky

Learning