We built this [socialistic] society not for the curbing of personal liberty, but in order that human personalities should really feel free.

The art of leadership is a serious matter. One must not lag behind a movement, because to do so is to become isolated from the masses. But one must not rush ahead, for to rush ahead is to lose contact with the masses. He who wished to lead a movement must conduct a fight on two fronts--against those who lag behind and those who rush ahead.

We have not yet built a communist society.It is not so easy to build such a society.

To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plan minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed... There is nothing sweeter in the world.

You do not lament the loss of hair of one who has been beheaded.

In a socialist society, everybody is obliged to work even though he is remunerated for his labor and not yet according to his needs, but according to the quantity and quality of the labor expended.

The death of one man is tragic, but the death of thousands is statistic.