Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

270V. I. LENINBut the whole thing now is to get the class-conscious vanguardof the proletariat to direct its thoughts to, and musterits forces for, a revolutionary struggle to overthrow theirgovernments. Revolutions such as Turati and Kautsky are“prepared” to accept, i.e., revolutions for which the dateand the chances of success can be set in advance, never happen.The revolutionary situation in Europe is a fact. Theextreme discontent, the unrest and anger of the massesare facts. It is on strengthening this torrent that revolutionarySocial-Democrats must concentrate all their efforts.Upon the strength of the revolutionary movement, in theevent of its not being entirely successful, will depend whatportion of the “promised” reforms will be realised in practice,and what use they will be for the further struggle of the workingclass. Upon the strength of the revolutionary movement,in the event of its being entirely successful, will depend thevictory of socialism in Europe and the achievement not ofan imperialist armistice in Germany’s struggle againstRussia and England, or in Russia’s and Germany’s struggleagainst England, or the United States’ struggle against Germanyand England, etc., but of a really lasting and reallydemocratic peace.Sotsial-DemokratNo. 58, January 31, 1917Published according tothe Sotsial-Demokrat text