Marx on terrorist bloodshed
“There is only one way of shortening, simplifying, and concentrating the bloodthirsty death-throes of the old society and the bloody birth pangs of the new—revolutionary terror. . . . [...] Once we are at the helm, we shall be obliged to reenact the year 1793. [...] We are pitiless and we ask no pity from you. When our time comes, we shall not conceal terrorism with hypocritical phrases. . . The vengeance of the people will break forth with such ferocity that not even the year 1793 enables us to envisage it. . . .”
Quote from Marx in a letter to Engels, reflecting on the Reign of Terror during the French revolution in 1793
There are a few instances of this being quoted on the internet but the Marxists have not seen fit to put that particular letter online yet. I wonder why? There are however a number of very similar statements recorded on this blog and elsewhere so I have no doubt that the quote is accurate
posted by JR at 10:31 PM
